Stop on Red Cameras Ahead

Red-light running is an increasingly dangerous and costly problem that is plaguing the streets of our country. Lakeland has joined the ranks with other communities and will soon have a camera enforcement program designed to reduce the number of violations, crashes, and injuries caused by red-light running.

The objective is to make the community safe and to have drivers obey the traffic signals by stopping on red. Starting June 1, 2009, first offenders caught by the cameras will be charged a $125 fine for running red lights. The first phase of Lakeland's camera program will cover five intersections.

- NB Socrum Loop Road @ E. Daughtery Road/Walt Loop Road
- WB E. Daughery Road/Walt Loop Road @ Socrum Loop Road
- SB Socrum Loop Road @ E. Daughtery Road/Walt Loop Road
- NB Socrup Loop road @ Old Combee Road
- SB Socrum Loop Road @ Old Combee Road
- NB N. Florida Avenue @ Memorial Blvd.
- NB S. Florida Avenue @ Beacon Road
- NB Cleveland Heights Blvd @ E. Edgewood Drive
- SB Cleveland Heights Blvd @ E. Edgewood Drive

Red light cameras will capture two images of the offending vehicle - one showing the vehicle before entering the intersection on a red light and one showing the vehicle proceeding through the intersection on red. A video is also made of the violation. The images are reviewed and the violation confirmed by an officer with the Lakeland Police Department.

Owners of vehicles photographed running red lights receive a Notice of Violation and are subject to fines. Those who receive a Notice of Violation can obtain additional information or view their violations and video online at www.violationinfo.com. Citizens can also call toll free 1-800-790-4111, if they have questions.

We encourage all drivers to slow down and stop on red.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Comments

[LPD Asst Chief Bill LePere]

Thank you Mr. Smith for your comments. Plenty of people have asked that question in the past, so you are not the first to pose that one to us. As I write this reply, I do not have an updated count of how many officers or deputies received a RLC violation notice since the cameras went into operation a year ago. I will have to research our records to get those figures for you. However, those who did get a violation notice paid their fines themselves.