INSIDE the Lakeland Police Department

Red Light Camera Update

Our most recent update on the installation of red light cameras in Lakeland listed locations and direction of travel for these cameras. Installation work continues as does our educational efforts via local broadcast outlets to remind drivers these cameras are just around the corner.

Having said that, please don't call us on June 2 and ask how many drivers "we caught" the day before. The cameras are set to go live on June 1 and will begin recording suspected violations for us to review. However, the camera system vendor wants to collect about a week's worth of data before our initial training sessions where our officers will learn how to process the violations. The vendor wants to use actual violations in our community to conduct the training. That training is scheduled for June 10.

If you run one of the red lights at the intersections being recorded by these cameras, you can expect to receive your violation notice in the mail shortly after that date.

Want to avoid receiving such a violation notice? Stop on red cameras ahead.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

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

Update on Red Light Cameras

We continue to move forward with the red light camera project for Lakeland. Installation of the cameras is just around the corner, and so an update report is probably in order at this time.

The cameras are expected to go live on June 1, 2009. Enforcement will begin at that point. An educational campaign to inform drivers of the cameras' locations is scheduled to kick off in April and May. We want drivers to know about the cameras in the hope that no violations will occur! (Of course we are realistic about this and expect to issue a large number of violation notices at the beginning.)

After much research into which intersections need the cameras and considering installation challenges at each location, cameras will be located at the following intersections:

- Northbound Socrum Loop Road @ E. Daughtery Road/Walt Loop Road
- Westbound E. Daughtery Road/Walt Loop Road @ Socrum Loop Road
- Southbound Socrum Loop Road @ E. Daughtery Road/Walt Loop Road
- Northbound Socrum Loop Road @ Old Combee Road
- Southbound Socrum Loop Road @ Old Combee Road
- Northbound N. Florida Avenue @ Memorial Blvd.
- Northbound S. Florida Avenue @ Beacon Road
- Northbound Cleveland Heights Blvd @ E. Edgewood Drive
- Southbound Cleveland Heights Blvd @ E. Edgewood Drive

We will keep posting updates as the project moves toward implementation with our goal still to save lives by reducing red light running in our community.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Lakeland City Commission Gives Final Approval to Red Light Cameras

The Lakeland City Commission gave final approval today for a contract to proceed with installation of red light cameras (RLC) around the city. The installation should begin around the first of the year and proceed in various phases.

We continue to get occasional letters and e-mails from people who support the RLC concept and from those opposed to these cameras. The reasons for support or opposition remain fairly constant - folks either want to prevent crashes caused by people running red lights or they want to avoid having "big brother" watch them driving around town.

I believe it is worth repeating here - the easiest and most effective way to avoid getting a citation or infraction notice from us is to simply not run red lights. You would think this is easy for drivers to do, but we know different.

Time will tell if the cameras change driver behaviors. We think they will and look forward to working with them once they get installed.

What do you think?

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Update on Red Light Cameras in Lakeland

Update on Red Light Camera Legislation

Legislation to permit communities to install red light cameras on state right-of-way and enforce violations died in the Florida Legislature this past session. Here is an update summary from the City's lobbyist in Tallahassee.

Final Action: HB 351 by Rep. Reagan (R, Bradenton), passed the House Infrastructure Committee 8-0 and the Economic Expansion & Infrastructure Council 12-2, but Died in the Policy and Budget Council. The Senate companion bill, SB 816, passed two committees -- Transportation 6-2 and Criminal Justice 7-0 -- but died with 3 committees remaining. Attempts were made to amend the language onto transportation bills, but those attempts failed.

Better luck next time.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Red Light Cameras: Checking Around the State

Thought you might find this blog posting from the Tampa/Hillsborough market interesting reading. It appears red light cameras are on their way toward installation in the county just west of us.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Red Light Camera Update

Thought it might be a good time to send out a general update on the progress of photo traffic enforcement legislation (red light cameras) in Florida.

It seems like the months just before the start of a new legislative session brings out limitless optimism from the forces favoring laws to permit photo traffic enforcement. At the same time, opposing forces rally against what they view as intrusive government activity.

So where will it all end in 2008? Nobody knows for sure, but we have some information to share with you as lawmakers get ready for the 2008 legislative session in Tallahassee.

Representative Ron Reagan (R - District 67, Sarasota) has re-filed the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act (HB 351) in the House of Representatives. Senator Mike Bennett (R - District 21, Bradenton) is the sponsor of the companion bill in the Senate (SB 816). Supporters are claiming the bill will get an early hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation, where it was stalled last year.

The STOP! Red Light Running Coalition of Florida is citing a survey conducted in August 2007 that claims 85% of Floridians favor the use of red light cameras. Another 10% oppose such enforcement strategies. These surveys are always subject to close scrutiny for any type of potential bias, so we leave their relevancy and reliability for you to decide.

In keeping up with research on photo traffic enforcement, I recently read an article in a police leadership newsletter on what elements make for a successful enforcement program. You can read the entire article here.

We will keep you posted as this bill makes its way through the Legislature in 2008.

- Asst Chief Bill LePere

Red Light Cameras Making News in Orange County

The use of red light cameras for enforcement purposes in Lakeland is on hold as the legality of their use to issue citations is addressed by the Florida Legislature. Other communities in Florida continue to make news by issuing citations or local fines from the cameras.

Here is a link to a story out of Orange County by Local6.com out about a threatened lawsuit over the cameras use to issue citations.

An activist group is considering filing a lawsuit against the cities of Orlando, Apopka and even Orange County over red-light cameras on roads.

The Florida Civil Rights Association said red-light cameras that photograph and ticket drivers who ignore the signals are unconstitutional.An activist group is considering filing a lawsuit against the cities of Orlando, Apopka and even Orange County over red-light cameras on roads.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere

Red Light Cameras: Legislative Update

We received an update yesterday on the legislative progress of HB 1247, a bill to permit municipalities and counties to use traffic enforcement detectors to enforce traffic control devices. That is the legal way of saying red light photo enforcement systems in Florida would become permissible under the law. Currently, the general consensus is the law permits the installation of red light cameras but prohibits municipalities from taking enforcement action with photo evidence.

HB 1247 was heard in the Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Committee on April 19, 2007. It was approved by the committee on a 14 - 0 vote. We are told the bill should move up to the House Policy and Budget Council next Monday.

The City's lobbyist reports there is no real motion on SB 2558, a similar measure filed in the Senate. We will keep you posted as we learn more.

-Asst Chief Bill LePere