Raymond-Lockwood Red Light Camera Fines Start Today

A red light camera installed a month ago will now begin issuing tickets, city officials said today.

The intersection of Raymond Boulevard and Lockwood Street, which started its 30-day warning period on April 11, will begin issuing $85 violations effective today, Friday, May 11. During the 30-day warning period, 391 warning letters were issued to motorists who ran through red lights at the intersection of Raymond Boulevard and Lockwood Street.
 
The city is also expanding the program to include a three new intersections; Bergen Street and West Runyon Street in the South Ward, Bergen Street and Avon Avenue in the South Ward, and Washington Street and Central Avenue in the Central Ward. The warning period for the intersection of Bergen Street and West Runyon Street began yesterday. The warning period for the intersections of Bergen Street and Avon Avenue and Washington Street and Central Avenue, will begin on May 11.
 
All motorists who run through red lights at these intersections will receive a warning, and after the warning period expires, motorists running red lights at this intersection will be issued an $85 traffic violation.
 
The City of Newark’s “Project Red Light” Automated Photo Enforcement System first went into operation on December 16, 2009, at the intersection of Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard and the intersection of Broad and Market Streets. The New Jersey Department of Transportation issued its one-year Red Light Running Report in November 2011 and it stated that for Broad Street and Market Street overall crashes decreased 25 percent, and for Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard overall crashes decreased 74 percent. Taking both intersections into consideration, Red Light Running Program had a net economic benefit of $149,000.
 
The type of violation issued is similar to one for running a red light captured by a police officer on the street, with the exception that no points will be assigned against the driver or the owner of the vehicle.