Red Light Camera System at Route 1 Intersection in Lawrence May Be Operational as Early as September

The in Lawrence Township will soon be operational.

“Construction for the site is about 95 percent complete and we expect it will be live sometime in early September,” said Charles Territo, a spokesman for American Traffic Solutions (ATS).

The Arizona-based company has entered into a contract with Lawrence Township to operate the traffic camera system at Route 1 (Brunswick Pike) and Franklin Corner Road/Bakers Basin Road.

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.

The new camera system 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.

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

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.

Territo said he is aware of 25 red light camera systems being installed throughout New Jersey as part of the pilot program. ATS has contracted to operate 17 of those systems, he said, noting that the company is recognized as the national leader in road safety technology and operates about 3,000 red light camera systems in cities – including New York and Philadelphia – in 21 states and Washington D.C.

While such systems typically generate significant revenue for municipalities from fines issued to drivers, the goal of the program is to slow motorists down and reduce accidents. And because each road is different in terms of traffic volume and other factors, it is impossible to say how many tickets will be issued.    

“Typically, the number of violations decrease over time as driver behavior changes, and that s exactly what these program are for,” Territo said.

Before the cameras in Lawrence Township “go live,” Territo said, a series of detailed tests will be performed to ensure that the entire system – from the sensors and flashes to the image quality and equipment that relays those photos to police – works properly.

“It won’t be turned on until all the quality checks are completed,” he said.

Signs will be erected to inform motorists of the presence of the cameras and only written warnings will be issued to red light violators during the first month the cameras are operational, Territo said.