Dates are not quite finalized, but the city of Rome still anticipates putting up red-light cameras at the intersection of Martha Berry Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Highway.
On July 12, 2004, the city began photographing red-light runners at the intersection of Hicks Drive and Turner McCall Boulevard.
Between 2005 and 2007, the city finance department has collected $557,635, and the Rome Police Department has recorded 184 wrecks at that intersection, 14 more in 2007 than they did in 2005.
Revenue collected has risen from $172,094 in 2005 to $205,431 in 2007.
“(The red-light cameras have) been effective and met our expectations,” said Kirk Milam, Rome public services manager. “It doesn’t eliminate the violations. ... We still have violations that occur on a regular basis, and that’s the purpose of the camera, to try and catch the violations.”
Click here for January's story about plans for Martha Berry-bypass camera.
Milam said they have not worked out the contract just yet regarding the new cameras, but the city will contract the installation and maintenance with Redflex Traffic Systems again.
The city of Rome previously paid up front for the expensive pieces of technology and equipment, an estimated $150,000 each, with grant money they received from the Georgia Department of Transportation.
The city expects to pay a monthly fee for the new cameras, installation and maintenance if it sets up a camera at Martha Berry Boulevard and the bypass.
After expenses are paid monthly to the vendor for maintenance and processing of the images, the $70 fines are being used to pay for traffic safety improvements as well as traffic-related safety projects.
Milam said the Sidewalk Improvement Program has funded projects such as the construction project in front of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce and Carnegie Building on Broad Street, in a West Rome residential area on Brookwood Avenue where the city provided connectivity for West Central Elementary School, and construction on Elm Street and Lyons Drive.
Prior to 2007, the fine for running the red lights was $84.
The $14 add-on fees were sent to the state between August 2004 and July 2005, until the state attorney general’s office ruled the extra charge was not authorized by law.
Citations are processed within 10 days, and Milam said the city has seen a fairly high return rate on fines being paid.
“Any kind of traffic enforcement is an important tool to instill in the drivers of our streets that you should obey the law,” he added. “So whether the police are out there … enforcement is a necessary part for what we do to make sure that the laws are obeyed.
“It doesn’t mean it stops all of the violations, but it is an essential part of the overall public safety program through policing that’s necessary.”
RED-LIGHT CAMERA BY THE NUMBERS
Year 2005 2006 2007
citations 2,562 2,843 3,214
$ collected 172,094 180,110 205,431
$ owed 7,246 18,900 19,549
# of wrecks 58 54 72
