December 23, 2011- CITY OF NEWARK WILL START ISSUING $85 VIOLATIONS TO MOTORISTS WHO RUN RED LIGHTS AT INTERSECTION OF WILSON AND DOREMUS AVENUES, EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2011

 “This program was created for the critical purpose of increasing pedestrian and motor safety at our busiest intersections,” Mayor Booker said. “With our partners, we are efficiently and effectively pursuing and punishing motorists who disregard our laws and disrespect the lives of our residents by running red lights, and saving many lives. I commend our Department of Engineering and the New Jersey Department of Transportation on developing this program.”

The City of Newark’s “Project Red Light” Automated Photo Enforcement System first went into operation on December 16, 2009, at the intersection of Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard and the intersection of Broad and Market Streets. The New Jersey Department of Transportation issued its one-year Red Light Running Report in November 2011 and it stated that for Broad Street and Market Street overall crashes decreased 25 percent, and for Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard overall crashes decreased 74 percent. Taking both intersections into consideration, Red Light Running Program had a net economic benefit of $149,000.

“This program is enhancing our ability to enforce traffic ordinances and maintain safety for pedestrians and motorists alike without incurring additional expenses or duties for our officers,” said Police Director DeMaio. “This Automated Photo Enforcement System is enabling us to work smarter and to eliminate the needless tragedies that result when motorists ignore red lights.”

In January 2008, Governor Jon S. Corzine enacted Assembly Bill 4314, establishing a five-year pilot program to determine the effectiveness of the installation and utilization of traffic control signal monitoring systems. Under the program, a traffic control signal monitoring system utilizes cameras and vehicle sensors in conjunction with the intersection’s traffic lights to produce images of vehicles disregarding a red signal and running a red light.

According to Division of Traffic and Signal Manager Jack M. Nata, whose division is overseeing the implementation of the program, “The Red Light Camera Program is one of the most important safety initiatives the Department of Engineering has ever pursued and these camera systems have created safer intersections for pedestrians and motorists alike,” Mr. Nata said.

The type of violation issued is similar to one for running a red light captured by a police officer on the street, with the exception that no points will be assigned against the driver or the owner of the vehicle. The penalty imposed for failing to observe a traffic control device is set forth in Title 39 of the New Jersey Statutes. The automated cameras snap photographs of license plates of vehicles that run red lights, which will result in the owners of the vehicles being mailed a ticket for the violation. Violators can view the digital still images and a 12-second video of the violation online. The program is financed by a percentage of the paid violations being collected by the State and disbursed among the State, County, and City.

For information on all City of Newark programs and policies, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.