Friday, November 30, 2012
A Department of Transportation report on Red Light Cameras is "sloppy and unprofessional," O'Scanlon claims.
Monmouth County Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon is criticising a recent New Jersey Department of Transportation red light camera study, saying that it fails to properly analyze its own data and presents a narrative that's misleadingly optimistic about the controversial program. According to O'Scanlon, the report analyzes two groupings of data: statewide data over the course of two years and data from just two intersections in Newark over one year's time. Rather than focus on statewide camera data, O'Scanlon said the narrative of the report centers on Newark alone, ignoring what he says are the negative realities of the program. O'Scanlon has called for the banning of red light cameras, saying they fail to decrease accidents and are only used…
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The Monmouth County Assemblyman teed off on Red Light Cameras following a Patch report.
In his fight against Red Light Cameras, State Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, R-13, is using a recent Patch report to demonstrate, if not the ineffectiveness of the burgeoning technology, the way municipalities and camera operators manipulate data to serve their own interests and not those of the citizens. An investigation by Lawrenceville Patch about a Red Light Camera installed at a busy intersection in Lawrence Township revealed that accidents there have nearly doubled in the seven and a half months since being turned on when compared to the same time period of the previous year. The revelation comes as more municipalities, including Shrewsbury, are in discussions with the state and camera companies to bring Red Light Cameras to their …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Assemblyman Sean Kean signed on to two bills that would eliminate the program or at least significantly alter it
Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon's, R-13, fight to reform Red Light Camera systems throughout New Jersey has gained additional support. Assemblyman Sean Kean, R-30, wants to kill the Red Light Camera program and has signed on to a bill that would do just that, along with another that would significantly alter the program that has installed cameras at some traffic lights throughout the state designed to nab red-light runners. Kean supports Assembly Bill 3285, which would increase the timing of yellow lights by a full second at intersections that have a red light camera system, lower the current fine for making an illegal right turn on a red light from $85 to $20 and allow a ½-second grace period once a light has turned from amber to red, …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Local legislator Declan O'Scanlon, R-13, introduced a bipartisan bill to reform red light cameras.
With Red Light Cameras throughout the state having been turned back on following a recent suspension, and with other towns, like Shrewsbury, considering setting up cameras of their own at busy intersections, a bipartisan bill has been introduced in the state assembly to alleviate some of the criticisms associated with the controversial program. Local legislator Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, R-13, a noted opponent of the Red Light Camera program, is a lead sponsor of the reform bill, which was introduced Wednesday. According to a release, the proposed legislation increases yellow light timing at intersections with cameras by a full second. It also would reduce the fine of right turns on red from $85 to $20 and finally would mandate a half-…
Friday, September 14, 2012
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 …
Safety cited as reason for pursuit of intersection cameras but data shows few incidents
The pursuit of red light cameras in Shrewsbury has been justified by the idea that the technology will make the town’s two busiest and suspected dangerous intersections safer. But just how unsafe are the intersections of Route 35 and Sycamore Avenue and Route 35 and Shrewsbury Avenue? The answer, it appears, is not very. Since the start of 2010, both intersections combined have seen a total of 28 motor vehicle accidents, according to police records obtained via the Open Public Records Act. That’s less than one a month, again, combined, and a strike against claims that the two intersections are routinely the site of car accidents. “That number surprises me. I would have thought it would be higher,” Shrewsbury Councilman Tom Menapace said. “…
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Sighting unsafe intersections, the borough is looking for two red light cameras to help resolve the issue of drivers running red lights.
Shrewsbury has ordered the timing of its traffic lights in an effort to clear the way for the installation of two red light cameras, Councilman Tom Menapace said Monday night. The move comes after New Jersey Department of Transportation suspended red light camera programs throughout the state over concerns that lights were improperly timed and causing drivers to receive tickets without proper justification. In an effort to hop on board with the red light camera program once it's reinstituted, Menapace said the borough wants to make sure its lights are in proper working order. Menapace said Shrewsbury is looking to install red light cameras at two intersections, including Route 35 and Sycamore Avenue, where borough hall and the Shrewsbury …
Barney
10:43 am on Friday, November 30, 2012
Shrewsbury is looking to make more money every year yet do less for the town every year. Will this pay for all of the pot holes, perhaps new striping, and a general clean up of the town? Where is the Shrewsbury taxpayer money going to? It keeps going up. The municipal building??? more ›