Saturday, December 30, 2006

Grand Prairie installs red light cameras at Belt Line and Lone Star Parkway

By Pegasus News wire

Vehicles at Belt Line Road and Lone Star Parkway in Grand Prairie better stop on yellow, as the city's first two red light enforcement cameras became active on Dec. 27.

The cameras at Belt Line Road & Lone Star Parkway cover the northbound and southbound approaches along Belt Line. A 30-day warning period is now in effect for drivers who run the red light at this intersection. The rear license plate of the violator's vehicle will be photographed and the registered owner will be mailed a warning. Beginning January 28, 2007, red light violators will receive actual citations in the mail.

Just a friendly reminder, there is no set definition of what constitutes running a red light.

Grand Prairie has a contract with RedFlex Traffic Systems of Scottsdale, Arizona, for the installation of 10 more intersection approaches and three railroad crossings. Additional cameras will be installed at various locations in Grand Prairie over the next few months. An analysis is currently underway of all rail crossings on the main rail line running parallel to Jefferson Street and intersections identified by the Police Department as the most hazardous due to red light running.

According to the Grand Prairie Police Department, the city's first traffic fatality of 2005 was the result of a driver running a red light, killing the mother of three young children. In the last three years, four people have been killed in Grand Prairie and others injured because drivers have ignored railroad crossing laws.

"If people know they will get a ticket for running a red light or crossing a railroad when therailroad crossing arms are down, they will start stopping before the light turns red," said Police Chief Glen Hill. "The automated red light enforcement cameras should reduce the number of these incidents."

Violations issued as a result of the Photo Enforcement Program differ from a traffic violation issued by a police officer in that the photo enforcement violation is a civil penalty and will not appear on the violator's driving record and the amount of the fine is less than the traffic (criminal) violation. After a 30 day grace period, violators will be fined $75 for red light violations and $150 for rail crossing violations.

There will be no out of pocket cost to the city for the Photo Enforcement Program. Administration of the program will be funded by fines collected. All revenue generated above administration cost has been designated by the City Council to upgrade rail crossings in an effort to have a quite zone approved on the main rail line through Grand Prairie.

Source: City of Grand Prairie

See more stories in:

• Transportation > Traffic Flow and Accidents