Norfolk red light cameras given the go

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk's first red light cameras have been given the go.

The City contract was just finalized with RedFlex traffic systems , according to Norfolk Public Works spokesman Rob Brown.

The first intersection expected to get the cameras is St. Pauls Blvd. and Brambleton Avenue. The installations should begin in February 2013. It is a cost-neutral project, meaning that the city will not be paying for installation, purchase or maintenance of the cameras, each of which are worth $4,350.

The RedFlex charges a monthly fee per camera which Brown says will be paid for with the fines that people get from running red lights and any money left over will go to the city.

Brown says if there are not a lot of traffic light violations, the vendor will not get paid.

Norfolk city council voted unanimously more than a year ago in favor of camera installation .

Chesapeake, Newport News and Virginia Beach already have PHOTOSafe systems in operation.

The red light cameras take pictures of vehicles that enter the intersection after the light is red. The photos are reviewed by police and then the violators are fined.

According to the RedFlex website, in 2007 Old Dominion University found that "in Virginia Beach, for locations with cameras, the relative risk of red light running was three times higher before cameras than after cameras were deployed. In other words, red light running events reduced 69% with cameras."

The state legislature passed a law where cities can have one camera per 10,000 residents.

The city of Norfolk identified the following intersections as proposed camera locations, through a review of traffic patterns and accident data:

• Brambleton Avenue and St. Pauls Blvd.
• St. Pauls Blvd. and Market St.
• Hampton Blvd. and Terminal Blvd.
• Virginia Beach Blvd. and Raby Road
• Military Hwy. at Princess Anne
• Military Hwy. at Northampton Blvd.
• Little Creek Road at Granby St.
• Little Creek Road at Chesapeake Blvd.
• Little Creek Road at Halprin Dr.

The camera plan will be discussed at the Norfolk City Council meeting on Nov. 13.

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