Red Light Cameras in Lawrence 'Go Live' at 12:01 a.m.

The will be turned on at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 18.

The camera system, to be operated by Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions as part of a contract with Lawrence Township, will capture detailed digital photographs of vehicles that fail to stop for red lights and instead go through the intersection, allowing township police to send tickets for red light violations to the vehicles’ registered owners.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, the system will undergo a 30-day working test period.

“During the working test period, violations will be documented with photographic evidence.  A ‘Courtesy Warning Notice’ will then be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle that committed the violation,” according to a Lawrence Township Police Department news release issued this afternoon (Oct. 17).

“At the completion of the 30-day working test period, the cameras located at this intersection will begin recording violations which will result in a ‘Notice of Violation’ being mailed to the registered owner of the violating vehicle. The fine for each violation committed is a minimum of $85,” police said in the news release.

The camera system will document violations in all four directions at the intersection.  

According to the 2010 annual report of the Lawrence Township Police Department, there were 53 traffic accidents at that location last year, making it the second most-dangerous intersection in terms of vehicle crashes in the township. Only the Brunswick Traffic Circle had more accidents (66) in 2010.

 “It’s important to note that a police officer reviews each violation before a ticket is issued,” Charles Territo, an ATS spokesman, .

Looking at the circumstances surrounding each violation is part of that review process, he explained. A ticket would likely not be issued, for example, if the reviewing officer sees that a vehicle went through a red light because its driver was trying to get out of the way of an approaching fire truck or ambulance.

(View the “How It Works” video from the media box above to see a step-by-step explanation of how ATS’ traffic camera systems work to document red light violations.)

The system being installed in Lawrence Township is part of a pilot program authorized by the New Jersey Department of Transportation to test if red light cameras will work in the Garden State. More than two dozen red light camera systems are being installed throughout New Jersey as part of the pilot program, including at least 17 to be operated by ATS.

The system in Lawrence Township was originally expected to go “live” in September but that was delayed after Hurricane Irene caused widespread flooding to the Route 1 intersection and surrounding area, including where the camera system hardware is located, township officials have said.