Red Light Camera Suspension A Go In 21 New Jersey Towns

Red Light Camera Suspension

The red light camera program has been suspended in 21 towns in New Jersey after it was found that traffic signals are not timed according to program standards.

The pilot program aims to determine whether red light cameras promote safety by reducing the frequency and severity of crashes at intersections that have a history of motorists running red lights.

However, the state Department of Transportation discovered that the pilot program legislation specifies a formula to determine the proper duration of the yellow light in a traffic signal that differs from the legally required, nationally accepted formula that NJDOT or municipalities use when installing traffic signals. The difference in the formulas may or may not require a longer duration for the yellow light.

Every traffic signal at each of the 85 intersections in the pilot program conforms to the nationally accepted standard used by the Department.

However, traffic signals at only 22 of the 85 intersections were certified in accordance with the formula specified in the legislation.

Due to the suspension, the Department is temporarily ceasing issuance of summonses to motorists on the basis of video evidence provided by cameras placed at intersections.

The suspension affects 63 of the 85 intersections statewide where red light cameras are operating or have been approved for operation. All locations in 19 participating municipalities and one intersection in each of two other municipalities are affected.

The affected municipalities are as follows: Newark, Linden, Wayne, Palisades Park, Union Township, Springfield (Union County), Roselle Park, Rahway, Englewood Cliffs, Pohatcong, Piscataway, Edison, East Windsor, Lawrence, Cherry Hill, Stratford, Monroe, Brick and Glassboro.

The Department has directed affected municipalities to conduct their traffic analyses and submit certifications to the Department no later than August 1, 2012.