Red light cameras: Too effective?

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Public officials everywhere will deny it, but the unspoken truth is that red light cameras, like those proposed in Worcester, have a dual purpose: Not only do they serve as a deterrent and punishment system, they are fantastic for bringing in dollars without having to use those pesky traffic cops.

Or are they?

Dallas, TX officials are considering shutting down some of their red light cameras at intersections because - surprise, surprise - they have been so effective in stopping violations that revenues have fallen dramatically.

“We did not anticipate having such success so early with the number of people not running red lights,” said Zaida Basora, Dallas’ assistant director of public works and transportation. “If you have success in safety, you don’t have a lot of success in revenue. The other side is the people will go back to what they were doing before without the cameras.”

One of the main problems, say officials, is that the city pays $3,799 a month to the camera service provider for each functional camera.  Inoperative cameras cost only a small fraction of that.  So each camera must make 50 busts a month, at $75 per violation, just to break even.

The results of Dallas’ 2-year-old red-light camera system are mixed blessings for City Hall, Mayor Tom Leppert said.

“The good news is it’s having the effect everyone in this community wants: fewer red lights being run. The goal was not to make money on this,” Mr. Leppert said. “But these are numbers and realities we’ll have to deal with.”

The mayor added that under no circumstances does he expect a decrease in red-light camera revenue to affect the city’s public safety budget, although the overall budget may not enjoy as much revenue, perhaps resulting in the city streamlining other items.

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