Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Douig Klembara - THE BATTALION Traffic flows through the intersection of Wellborn Road at Joe Routt Boulevard. During the warning period starting Feb. 4, violators will be sent a notification rather than a citation. However, a violation after Feb. 18. will result in a $75 citation sent by mail to the driver, along with images of the offense. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Fred Lambuth [Click to enlarge]

Exercise caution when hurrying through a traffic light. College Station will implement the C.A.R.E.S. program, Cameras Advancing Red Light Enforcement Safety, to catch motorists running red lights in four of College Station's major intersections, beginning in February.

During the warning period, starting Feb. 4, violators will be sent a notification rather than a citation. However, a violation will result in a $75 citation sent by mail to the driver, along with images of the offense, when the program initiates Feb. 18.

The cameras will be installed at the intersections of Wellborn Road at George Bush Drive, Harvey Road at Munson Avenue, Texas Avenue at Walton Drive and Harvey Road at George Bush Drive East.

Safety is the main reason officials have decided to implement the camera program, said College Station City Council member Lynn McIlhaney.

"We have been discussing it for about a year, and reviewed several studies of other communities who have red light cameras," McIlhaney said. "Based on the number of wrecks and citations that have decreased in other communities with cameras, we decided to initiate the program."

Running red lights is a problem in College Station, because it can result in property damage and injury, said College Station Assistant Police Chief Larry Johnson.

"The city is going to perform a public campaign before the cameras are installed, to inform the public so they are aware that the cameras are there," Johnson said.

"I think the cameras will be good because a lot of people run red lights. I think [the cameras] will make people more conscious, so they don't run [red lights]," said Sarah Linebaugh, a junior communication major.

The city of Plano installed four red light cameras in March 2006, and added 10 since because of the success of the program. The number of red light crashes decreased by 16 percent and intersection crashes have lowered by 31 percent since the red light cameras were installed, said Officer Rick Donald of the Plano Police Department.

"Not only have red light crashes decreased, but intersection crashes in general have [decreased] because the cameras cause people to drive slower through intersections," Donald said.

In Plano, there has been good and bad feedback, Donald said. Supporters of the cameras say that they cause people to drive with caution, but some think they are an invasion of privacy.

Texas state law requires a citizen meeting to take place before implementing such a program, where feedback in College Station was positive McIlhaney said. Officials considered the designs of each intersection, site distances and the frequency of red light violations in their decision about where to place the cameras.

The cameras function by taking a photo of the offense, then the film is reviewed by the police department before citations are sent out. The cameras take pictures of the back of the vehicle and the license plate, no image is taken of the driver or front of the car.

There is an appeal process if the driver does not agree with the charge. The issue of the citation is considered a civil offense, so it does not appear on the driver's record, McIlhaney said.

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