The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works began installing Red Light Cameras at five midtown and Buckhead intersections this fall. Each camera has a 30 day warning period from the date it is first activated. After that warning period, which ends this week, a $70 fine per ticket will be issued to the registered owners of vehicles identified. The first fines will be issued beginning December 4th. The fines are considered civil penalties and will therefore not impact license points or insurance rates. Recipients who want to contest tickets must have their case addressed by Atlanta City Traffic Violations Bureau. The bureau can be reached by phone at 404-658-6940.
Tickets are accompanied by a photograph of the car crossing the stop line, with the tag in full view, and the address of a website to view the photograph online.
During the warning period the city issued 800 warning tickets. Owners who receive warning tickets do not need to take any action, except to ensure the safer operation of their vehicles. The city will not retain data related to warning tickets after warnings are sent.
City officials continue to stress the value of the program in making intersections safer, by reducing red light running crashes. In 2002, as many as 207,000 crashes, 178,000 injuries and 921 fatalities in the U.S. were attributed to red light running. Between 1992 and 2000, fatal motor crashes at traffic signals increased 19 percent, outpacing the rise in all other fatal crashes. Public costs exceed $14 billion per year. More than half of the deaths in red light running crashes are innocent motorists and pedestrians
The legislative basis for the red light camera program is House Bill 678, passed in 2001 by the Georgia General Assembly. It states that municipal and county law enforcement agencies with at least one fulltime certified peace officer may use cameras to monitor red light violations. The law also provides measures to ensure the privacy of motorists is not comprised. Proceeds collected from fines will support the operation of the program.
Additional Media Contact: Pamela Wilson (o) 404-330-6240