Red-light camera tickets drop with new law

Mercifully, at least one South Florida city has stepped on the brakes when it comes to overzealous enforcement at red-light camera intersections.

Hallandale Beach's lone red-light camera has generated more than $1.3 million in fines since it went live in January, but there has been a huge decrease in right-turn violations since a new state law took effect on July 1.

The law says cities are no longer supposed to cite offenders who make slow-rolling right turns "in a careful and prudent manner." Before July 1, cities could fine anyone who didn't come to a full stop before turning at a camera intersection.

Hallandale Beach has apparently complied with the spirit of the new law, with a 77 percent drop in right-turn violations from June to July.

There were 263 right-turn citations in July, down from 1,114 in June and 2,103 in April. "It did seem like a big drop," said Hallandale Beach City Manager Mark Antonio.

"We're erring on the side of caution in what we consider a violation now."

Police who review video of each infraction are using more discretion, Antonio said, factoring in traffic conditions, time of day and whether drivers hit their brakes before turning. Antonio even let the magic number slip; supposedly drivers going slower than 8 mph will not get cited.

Besides the new law, Antonio said heightened awareness might have contributed to the steep decline. I wrote a column spotlighting the camera — at northbound Federal Highway and Hallandale Beach Boulevard — on July 11.

In the following weeks, Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Bill Julian said he noticed traffic backing up in the right-turn lane as some drivers simply refused to make turns on red. I noticed the same thing on follow-up visits.

Since Hallandale's camera started snapping, 94 percent of roughly 12,000 violations have been for improper right turns. In July, 87 percent of violations were for right turns. Straight-ahead violations have remained fairly constant, between 35-55 most months.

Red-light cameras have become a hot-button topic — and a more common sight — throughout South Florida. Under the new state law, fines for the first offense have increased to $158 (from $125), with the money shared by cities and the state.

Aventura started the trend in 2008, and red-light cameras have spread to Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. They've been approved in Hollywood, Davie and Boynton Beach.

Fort Lauderdale's nine cameras went live last week, but fines won't begin until September. Right turns that aren't "careful and prudent" will be subject to fine, according to police spokesman Frank Sousa.

Sousa said it's not the city's intent to play "gotcha" with drivers who unwittingly slow-roll through red lights, but those who make right turns dangerously will be fined.

"If you blow through an intersection and make a right turn at 15 mph, you're going to get a ticket," said Sousa. "But if you make an effort to come to a stop, hit the brakes but maybe don't get all the way down to zero, then we have discretion under the new law to not write the ticket."

In all camera cities, police review the camera's video before issuing a fine. Fines are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, who can appeal.

The worst part of the camera program: Cities have 30 days to send the violations, so drivers might not realize they've racked up multiple offenses until they all come in the mail a month later.

The new state law sets a uniform $158 fine for each offense. Previously, cities issued progressive fines, with the third offense soaring to $500 in Hallandale Beach and Aventura.

Camera advocates say they make red-light runners think twice before blowing through intersections, reducing devastating T-bone crashes. But critics say the cameras are just a money grab by desperate cities and could spur an increase in rear-end collisions as people slam on their brakes at the last second.

"More people are aware of the cameras now, and more people are being safer," Antonio said. "That's a good thing."

The big trap at many intersections: When the cross-street has a left-turn arrow, and drivers making rights think they have clear passage. Technically, they still have to come to a full stop before turning.

It would be nice if those intersections (Hallandale's included) could have a green-arrow signal for right turns at the same time as the cross-street's left-turn signal. Antonio said Hallandale Beach has petitioned state and county transportation officials who control and install traffic signals for a right-turn arrow at the intersection. Even with less stringent right-turn enforcement, the best advice for drivers who want to avoid expensive surprises: Red means stop.

Michael Mayo Sun Sentinel Columnist 5:52 p.m. EDT, August 16, 2010