Shrewsbury Still Mulling Prospect of Red Light Cams
Borough has reportedly put together a bid package for red light cameras to be installed at two intersections.
As state officials wrangle over the use of red-light cameras at the municipal level, Shrewsbury has continued discussions of its own over acquiring two of the controversial cameras, even taking the step of preparing the work for bid prior to getting council approval.
Councilman Tom Menapace, who has been in correspondence with American Traffic Solutions, an Arizona-based red-light camera firm, confirmed that the borough has drawn up bid specs but that no final determination has been made on whether to pursue the ticketing tech.
“I think we still want to talk it over as a group,” he said during a recent telephone interview. “The bid specs were drawn up but we haven’t taken any steps forward. Obviously we’re aware of all of the questions that came up on the timing of the yellow lights and that kind of thing and obviously we’re looking into it.”
'These cameras are about money, not safety'
The issue of traffic light timing led to a recent near-statewide suspension – and subsequent reactivation – of red light camera use by Gov. Chris Christie as the New Jersey Department of Transportation found that several towns had given out tickets while using incorrect yellow-light timing. In the offending cases, yellow lights turned to red in less time than was mandated by state law.
Leading the charge in the fight against red-light cameras at the state level has been Red Bank resident Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, R-13, who claims he, along with a hired traffic engineer, has discovered recent flaws in light timing, still, following the reactivation of the cameras. O’Scanlon has called for an end to the use of the cameras, saying the lights are used only to generate revenue, not promote safety as many local officials claim.
O’Scanlon also has charged that the state’s pilot red-light camera program, approved in 2009, is not accepting new towns. By law, only 25 towns throughout the state are permitted to operate the cameras.
“We have proven that there are major flaws with this program and that these cameras are about money, not safety,” O’Scanlon said in a release. “At this point any elected official continuing to seek admittance to this program is uninformed at best, and brazenly seeking to steal money from motorists at worst.”
O’Scanlon also has called for the DOT to discontinue approving permits for additional cameras in those towns as part of the pilot program.
'No perfect solution'
Despite calls to end the light program over potential abuses and charges that it leaves law enforcement in the hands of private companies — in most cases, towns pay to lease red-light cameras and then are given a cut of the ticketing profits while private companies like American Traffic Solutions pocket the rest — Menapace said his interest comes purely from an interest in public safety.
Shrewsbury is a small town with a population of just more than 3,000 people, but each day tens of thousands of cars — the number has been estimated by public officials at between 30,000 and 50,000 — drive through the town along Route 35. The proposed location for the two cameras Shrewsbury seeks is at its two busiest intersections: Route 35 and Sycamore Avenue and Route 35 and Shrewsbury Avenue.
Asked why Shrewsbury couldn’t better enforce traffic laws at these two intersections with personnel, Menapace said the town simply doesn’t have the manpower or resources to do so. On an average police patrol shift, Menapace said there are three available officers. To dedicate one to an intersection or use two to cover both intersections would just be “impractical.”
Still, Menapace echoed, no decision has been concluded. He said he’s seen reports that red-light cameras prevent accidents — some of these studies come from organizations funded by American Traffic Solutions — as well as reports that red-light cameras actually increase rear-end accidents.
It’s something to consider, he said.
“That’s something we’re going to have to discuss as a council,” he said. “There’s a lot of information on both sides, and I’ve heard all those things. There’s no perfect solution. I think this is an attempt to make people go slower.”
Editor's note: Please click here to read a related story on the number of accidents at the targeted intersections.
MS2012
8:06 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
No red light cameras, try keeping people from doing 50mph down white street instead.
Barney
8:46 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
The 18 SHREWSBURY COPS that are OVERPAID in then1/4 square mile community should do their jobs and work.
These fatsos I see are ready to rake you in for a lifelong pension when they are 42 years old.
Col. Korn
10:51 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
If you get the cameras and someone speeds up to beat it or hits the breaks to comply and hits someone or gets hit, the town can be sued for wrongful death and I assure you they will have to pay millions.
Towns all over America are uninstalling their cameras because of this and other lawsuits that are being decided against them.
Doubt it? Just google "Red Light Camera Lawsuit" and you will get about a thousand hits.
Your Obt. Svt.
Col Korn,
Chief O’ Mayhem in the Great WW-2 (And the Cold War)
Now Chief O’ Security, Sanitation (And the Complaint Dept.)
OXOjamm Studios.
Brian Ceccarelli
2:26 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
Col. Korn, people should already sue Shrewsbury for injuries and wrongful death for having to slam on the brakes or beat the light. The reason why people do this is because the federal standards that set yellow light durations force this human behavior. This is what happens when we are exposed to standards that oppose the laws of physics. The red light cameras are parasites that feed off the problems induced by the systematic errors of the federal standards. All the money is illegal to take in the first place because it is illegal to pass laws opposing the Laws of Nature. (Example: One cannot prohibit the Law of Gravity.)
We are suing the Town of Cary, North Carolina for prohibiting Newtons laws of motions and collecting revenue from such a law.
The judge understands the argument and granted us class-certification in June 2012.
Cary terminated its red light program in August.
Cary goes to trial in January.
And in 1984, the City of Flint Michigan was convicted of wrongful death over a short yellow light.
http://redlightrobber.com
Col. Korn
11:57 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
And since you were just warned, it will make it that much easier to prove wrongful death: "You were WARNED that these cameras had a history of causing accidents and yet YOU STILL INSTALLED THEM???!!!"
Your Obt. Svt.
Col Korn,
Chief O’ Mayhem in the Great WW-2 (And the Cold War)
Now Chief O’ Security, Sanitation (And the Complaint Dept.)
OXOjamm Studios.
schneile
1:36 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
I will gladly take my considerable business with Shrewsbury merchants elsewhere if the borough decides it simply must have this obvious revenue grab. I will buy my Lululemon online instead of visiting the store in The Grove (and perhaps stopping into Starbucks while there). There are other Starbucks, there are other Harmons, there are other yoga studios, there are other running stores...if you get my drift. ARE YOU LISTENING, COUNCILMAN MENAPACE??? I will drive right through and keep on going without stopping to drop any dollars in Shrewsbury -- ever!!
wesdxcvvv
8:36 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
I second that motion. "No Joe's Cafe" and "The Dutch Cafe" in Red Bank make great coffee. and no red light cameras.
The Rev. Rosemarie Newberry
2:28 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
I am a Shrewsbury resident. I oppose these agreeing with the Assemblyman. I would like our Shrewsbury to be a friendly town. I have never been inconvenienced by accidents at those two intersections. Any I have mane times seen all three patrol officers together. It is never an all or nothing with personnel and I am sure they can come up with a scheme for periodic traffic checks at those intersections.
JosephGhabourLaw
2:41 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
Whether or not you agree with this program, the reason the red light cameras were pulled was clear. The program requires the yellow phase of the light to be at least one second long for every 10 m.p.h. of the prevailing speed of approaching vehicles-- not speed limit.
Many cameras did not meet this standard. With the program back in operation the issue is how will this guideline be adhered to? Is the average speed of this intersection gauged regularly, and the cameras accordingly adjusted?
Fred M
4:29 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
It's all about money...Let me ask this question? Would the borough install these lights if they didn't get a penny for the tickets issued?
Fred M
4:36 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
I don't like the ideal of technology replacing humans...Next cameras you will see are for speeding..You already see those speed limit signs that tell you what your speed is...Some towns now have those cameras in those speed limit signs taking pictures so people can get issued a speeding ticket...I think if you start adding all this technology stuff in catching us traffic violates, then reduce the police force...
Brandt Hardin
8:15 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
Traffic cameras are just another form of Policing for Profit as Capitalism distorts our Justice System. These companies are bottom-feeders and take a 40% cut of the tickets while creating MORE dangerous intersections by fixing the lengths of yellow lights to entrap drivers. You can read about how private companies and crooked politicians have turned our Police forces on their ear in every attempt to squeeze money out of the general public at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-privatized-police-state.html
Barney
8:45 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
TOO MANY COPS in SHREWSBURY making TOO MUCH MONEY with BIG PENSIONS. I see some of them are real big and FAT, put them to work and scrap the cameras.
These bums just mooch the money of the Shrewsbury taxpayers and hide in the little town that only needs 5 cops at most.
Barney
8:49 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
If they do get them, just fire 10 of the lazy cops.
rbresident
7:55 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
Ok Barney. So lets take your advice. FIRE 40% of the force. Then when a man comes into your home, ties up your family and you call the police and none show up cause they are under staffed can i say oops guess you got what you wanted huh?
Barney
9:41 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Ok rbresident,
Lets fire 40% of the force so that we can STILL have 10 officers cruising around little Mayberry.
Then lets buy cameras so that they can collect $100k pensions at age 42 when they retire and no longer work for us.
As for someone breaking in and tying up my family, always remember to exercise your 2nd amendment and be protected.
Your repsonse was so typical as to why we overpay and overspend so often in NJ.
Fred M
4:07 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
I don't like the ideal of cameras..All it means is this..Another Eye of Gov watching all our moves..There is no doubt that in he last 20 years, Gov has more control over us..We have less freedom...We always have to watch our back..I could understand if we lived in Russia..BUT WE DON'T