Red light cameras take pictures of cars running red lights to deter drivers from doing so. They use a camera and computer circuit connected to an induction loop in the pavement. The camera can photograph the front and rear of a vehicle and can send a ticket to the registered owner or driver. Mistakes can be made, but disputes are relatively easy. Critics argue they can cause traffic hazards and undue monitoring of citizens, but advocates believe they make roadways safer.
A red light camera is a traffic safety tool that takes pictures of red light cars for ticket drivers. They act as a deterrent, reminding drivers that even if there isn’t a police officer, they can still be issued tickets for driving through a red light. Accidents caused by running red lights result in fatalities and significant amounts of damage each year, making an effective method of enforcement a very useful tool in keeping roadways safer.
The red light camera consists of a camera connected to a computer circuit. The computer uses an induction loop built into the pavement to determine when a car passes a particular point on the road. If the light is red and a car passes the intersection, the computer tells the camera to take a picture. A red light camera can photograph the front and rear of a vehicle or just the rear, depending on the system.
In some regions, the system delivers a ticket to the car’s registered owner, and that person is responsible for payment. The camera only takes a photo of the rear of the car to get the number plate, as all vehicles must display a valid number plate at the rear. In places where the driver receives a ticket, the red light camera takes a picture of the front of the car to get a picture of the person behind the wheel. The registered owner will receive a package in the mail with information on how to send the ticket to the driver if the owner was not driving.
Red light camera systems rely on alphanumeric recognition to send tickets and sometimes make mistakes. Depending on the lighting and other conditions, it is possible that the wrong car will be accidentally fined. Disputing such tickets is relatively easy, because people can point to the make and model of the car in the photo to show that a mistake must have been made when reading the license plate. In cases where a car is stolen and the thief runs a red light, people can file a police report and have their tickets cancelled.
Critics of red light cameras argue that they can cause traffic hazards by forcing drivers to stop briefly or constitute undue monitoring of citizens. Law enforcement and advocates believe that since the lights turn yellow first, giving people plenty of time to stop, the former argument isn’t necessarily true and hasn’t been documented at intersections with red light cameras. The second argument is a topic of lively debate in some regions, especially places where people place a high value on civil liberties.
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