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May 21, 2008 5:47 pm US/Mountain
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Denver Ready To Start Red Light Camera Program
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Denver installed the first set of red light cameras at an intersection Wednesday in hopes of reducing accidents. Three other intersections with high accident numbers will get the cameras in the next few weeks.
The first cameras were set up at East 36th Avenue and Quebec Street. The cameras won't go online until later in June.
Cameras will also be installed at 6th Avenue and Lincoln Street, West 8th Avenue and Speer Boulevard and West 6th Avenue and Kalamath Street.
Statistically, the intersection at 6th and Lincoln is the worst in Denver for the number of collisions recorded. Over a three-year period, the city says there were nearly 100 right-angle, or so-called T-bone crashes that in most cases resulted from drivers running red lights.
The city said the pilot program will be run by Denver Public Works and the police department. Redflex Traffic Systems is the contractor who will install and provide monthly maintenance on the system for at least the next 4 years.
Some drivers CBS4 talked to Wednesday thought the program would merely generate revenue and wouldn't necessarily reduce the number of crashes.
"I don't think people pay attention to that stuff until they get hit the first time," said one driver.
AAA Colorado is not sold on machine enforcement as well. They said they prefer a real live officer.
"It's much better having a live person than a machine, because they're going to be able to judge more effectively if someone ran the red light," a AAA official said.
Federal traffic studies of red-light cameras in seven cities have shown they reduced T-bone crashes by 25 percent.
"The T-bone and broadside crashes are by far the most fatal, cause the most injuries and property damage," Bill Vidal with Denver Public Works said.
Aurora has red light cameras at four intersections and is looking to expand the program. Boulder also has red light cameras at six intersections.
Aurora reports that in 2006, overall crashes were down at three of the four intersections where they're installed. Rear-end crashes were up at three of the intersections.
"It's something that seems to occur just in the initial few months after the cameras go live and then it tends to go away," said Brian Mitchell, Denver Director of Traffic Engineering.
Research shows that rear-end crashes are less costly than t-bone crashes that often result when drivers run red light.
Many existing red-light cameras like the in Fort Collins are above ground. Denver's will be installed underground with yellow warning signs telling motorists of their presence.
"People will still have the right to contest it in court if they feel they should not have received the citation," said David Quinones, Denver Assistant Police Chief. "They also have the right to go online and review the video of the violation that was captured."
The fine for red-light tickets caught by cameras is $75. That ticket cap is set by state law. Also, the machine tickets do not allow points to be assessed against a driver's license.
There will also be a 30-day grace period once the first camera is up and running on June 10.
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