1. Why is the City of Dallas implementing the SafeLight Dallas Stops on Red program?

Red light running is a serious problem. According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2004, there were 190,000 injuries and over 900 deaths related to people running red lights. Over 150 communities in the United States currently use red light cameras, including eight of the 10 largest U.S. cities. Texas has the fourth highest number of red light running fatalities per capita in the nation. The purpose of the program is to improve public safety by increasing enforcement of red light laws. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that red light camera enforcement, in conjunction with public awareness can modify driving behavior and has been shown to reduce red light violations and intersection crashes. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of right angle collisions and related injuries/fatalities citywide by 25% through the incremental expansion of automated photo and video cameras within the City of Dallas

2. What is a red light running violation?

A violation occurs when a motorist enters an intersection after the signal light has turned red. Motorists who are already in an intersection when the signal changes to red - while waiting to turn, for example - aren't red light running and are not ticketed.

3. How does the Automated Red Light Enforcement camera system work?

Each approach equipped with Automated Red Light Camera equipment will have a series of digital cameras installed near the roadway. The camera system is connected to the traffic signal and receives an active output when the traffic signal turns red. The system also uses radar detectors to measure the speed of cars just before they reach the intersection stop line. The camera is triggered to take the first photo when two conditions are met: 1) the traffic signal outputs an active red signal and 2) a vehicle approaching the intersection stop line is traveling above a pre-set minimum speed. The camera immediately takes a second photo to show that the vehicle proceeded through the intersection on red.

The two photos include the date, time of day, time elapsed since the beginning of the red signal, and the speed of the vehicle. An electronic flash produces clear images of vehicles under all light and weather conditions.

Neither the camera system nor the red-light camera system operators have control over the traffic signal timings or traffic signal control equipment. The traffic signal timings and equipment are designed, operated and maintained by City staff and are completely independent of the red light camera system.

4. Why isn't conventional police enforcement sufficient?

Enforcing traffic laws in dense urban areas by traditional means poses special difficulties and dangers for police. After a violation has occurred in the presence of a Police Officer, the Officer must often times follow the violator through the red light to stop it. This can endanger the Police Officer, pedestrians, and other motorists. Most communities do not have the resources for police to patrol intersections as often as needed in order to ticket all red light runners. Research indicates that traditional enforcement has an immediate, but camera programs work round the clock and free police to focus on other enforcement needs.

5. What if I run a red light and am cited by an officer, then receive a Notice of Violation in the mail for the same offense?

Under these circumstances the Notice of Violation issued pursuant to a violation of the City Ordinance would be dismissed. The violator would still be responsible for the citation issued by an officer for violation of Transportation Code Section 544.007.

6. Do the cameras photograph every vehicle passing through an intersection?

No, this technology is intended to catch vehicles driven by motorists who enter the intersection after the signal has turned red. Only violations are recorded and stored.

7. Will the red light cameras take a picture of the driver of the vehicle?

No. The cameras do not capture an image of the driver. A violation of this city ordinance is a civil violation assessed against the owner of the vehicle; as such, there is no need to identify the driver. Photos are taken of vehicles moving away from the camera and into the intersection. All that can be seen in the photo is the rear end of the vehicle and the license plate.

8. Are red light cameras considered a revenue source for the City?

The red light camera system is intended to change driver behavior and encourage safety ultimately reducing crimes and saving lives. The program will be funded by those drivers who refuse to stop at red lights and violate the City Ordinance. The revenue generated from the program will go toward paying for the program. Additional revenue will be utilized for city services and public safety programs including traffic engineering improvements and traffic enforcement.

9. Where are the cameras located?

The camera safety systems have been installed at the following locations and will be operational December 2006: Commerce Street @ Central Expressway Abrams Road @ Forest Lane Fitzhugh Ave @ Gaston Ave Lemmon Ave @ Mockingbird Lane A total of 60 cameras will be installed throughout the city and will be listed on the city’s website. Construction for all 60 cameras is expected to be complete by May 2007 (current locations).

10. How were the intersections in the program selected?

Transportation engineers selected sites to create the most immediate impact on red light related crashes and driver behavior. They used police accident reports and constructed crash diagrams to identify intersections with red-light related crash trends. They also selected intersections with a high frequency of red-light violations using police red-light citation records and by making on site observations at high volume or congested intersections. Improvements at these sites will be measured by the reduction in crashes and violations at each specific camera site. Other cities using red light cameras have found that sites with cameras have a “halo” affect on surrounding intersections. This halo affect reduces violations and accidents at not only the intersections with cameras but also intersections in the surrounding area. Knowing this halo affect occurs, cameras will not only be placed at intersection with crash trends, but also strategically placed geographically to maximize the total area of influence.

11. Does someone review the citation before it is issued?

Trained Police Officers review photos of violations before a citation is issued to ensure that there was a true red light violation. Tickets are then mailed to vehicle owners only in cases where it is clear the vehicle ran the red light.

12. Will the citation add points to the driver's record?

No. Citations issued through the program establish a civil penalty against the owner of the vehicle, not the operator. Neither insurance nor license points are added.

13. How are citations appealed?

Notices of Violation may be appealed to an Administrative Hearing Officer. The citation will contain the details and a preset date for an administrative hearing.

14. If after a hearing I am held liable by the Administrative Hearing Officer is there a means to appeal this?

Yes, a person found liable by the Administrative Hearing Officer may appeal this finding to the Dallas Municipal Court. Instructions on how to schedule an appeal will be available from the Administrative Hearing Officer as well as from the Municipal Court Clerk’s Office.

15. What is the citation fine?

As of September 1, 2007, a red light violation carries a civil penalty of $75.00 for each violation.

16. When will the camera safety program begin?

The SafeLight Dallas Stops on Red program started on December 9, 2006. There will be a 30-day warning period in which the citations mailed to motorists will be warnings. Following the 30-day warning period, citations will be issued to motorists.

17. Who manages the program?

The program is a partnership between the Department of Public Works and Transportation (PWT), the Dallas Police Department and ACS State and Local Government Solutions. PWT has a project manager responsible for administration of the program, certified SafeLight Officers review and issue all citations, and ACS is responsible for the camera installation and maintenance, violation and payment processing, and adjudication support.