published: Friday, February 15, 2013

Council approves red-light cameras

Clermont

ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer

roxannebrown@dailycommercial.com

City council members voted Tuesday to install 24 red-light cameras at 13 intersections at a cost of more than $4,000 each per month.

Mayor Hal Turville and Councilman Keith Mullins voted against the measure.

Supporters believe the cameras will help the city. Citations are about $158, and city officials believe the ticket revenue will pay for camera maintenance and use.

"I know there are places with a lot of red light cameras, Apopka being one, and they are definitely proven to be a big deterrent," Lake County Public Works Director Jim Stivender said. "A lot of people see the signs letting them know an intersection is being monitored and I think they've begun to take that seriously. More and more, people are realizing there are, or might be cameras, so they're not running the red light."

Stivender said he hopes the cameras deter violations.

"The city is charging the car for the crime basically and they (cameras) probably bring in some revenue, but the main point of them is to keep people from running red lights, which has gotten worse and worse," he said.

Police Chief Chuck Broadway provide information to help city officials selection camera locations.

"We selected intersections where we see a higher volume of crashes, the propensity for traffic crashes, as well as, the complaints of red light runners," Broadway said. "Research has shown that red light cameras have reduced traffic crashes, therefore reducing injuries to our citizens at the intersections at which they are located."

City officials approved Broadway's request to have one officer monitor the violations.

City officials said violations will be reviewed before tickets are issued.

The sites are:

-- State Road 50 & 12th St. (County Road 561), one camera facing west

-- S.R. 50 & Fifth Street, two cameras, one facing east, one west

-- S. R. 50 & East Ave., one camera facing west

-- S.R. 50 & Grand Highway, two cameras, one facing east, one west

-- S.R. 50 & Citrus Tower Blvd., two cameras, one facing east, one west

-- S.R. 50 & Hancock Rd., four cameras, one each facing east, west, north and south

-- U.S. Highway 27 & Citrus Tower Blvd., one camera facing south

-- U.S. 27 & Steve's Rd., one camera facing south

-- U.S. 27 & John's Lake Rd., two cameras, one facing north, one south

-- U.S. 27 & Citrus Tower Blvd./Hammock Ridge Rd., two cameras, one facing north, one south

-- U.S. 27 & Hartwood Marsh Rd., two cameras, one facing, north, one south

Road construction may delay camera installation at other lights:

They are:

-- S.R. 50 & Bloxam Ave., two camera, one facing east, one west

-- U.S. Highway 27 & Hooks St., two cameras, one facing north, one south