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Red-light cameras may be upgraded to catch speeders

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Speeding ‘huge safety issue,’ says Dayton police chief

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The City of Dayton is looking to make its red light cameras — like this one at Patterson Road and Smithville Road — able to track people who speed through green lights, too.

Staff photo by Teesha McClam The City of Dayton is looking to make its red light cameras — like this one at Patterson Road and Smithville Road — able to track people who speed through green lights, too.

By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer Updated 12:26 AM Thursday, February 4, 2010

DAYTON — Traffic enforcement cameras nabbing red-light violators at some Dayton intersections could soon be equipped to catch motorists who speed through green lights.

“We know speed is an issue. I’ve been trying to move this forward for two years,” police Chief Richard Biehl said.

With the police department facing a significant decline in staffing because of retirements, Biehl told the City Commission at a work session Wednesday, Feb. 3, that he’s looking for technology to enhance public safety.

“I’d like to do this in 90 days,” Biehl said.

The city is under contract with Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. to operate 20 red-light cameras at 10 intersections .

The cameras, which currently only record red-light violations, have the capability to monitor speed, Biehl said. A five-day study using those cameras in March 2008 detected 4,690 speeders going at least 10 mph over the posted limit.

Adding speed detection would require an ordinance change and City Commission approval. City traffic engineers will conduct additional speed studies at high-accident intersections to determine whether more cameras are needed. The cost of cameras and software would be borne by the vendor.

The police chief said a new contract with Redflex , or possibly another vendor, would have to be negotiated to administer the program. In the meantime, the contract with Redflex , which expires Feb. 14, likely will be extended for a limited period.

Biehl said the speeding tickets would carry the same fine as a red-light violation, $85. Initially, there will be a grace period in which speeders get a warning ticket, Biehl said. Motorists caught speeding and running a red light would probably just get one ticket.

Seven Ohio cities use photo enforcement cameras to detect speeders, including West Carrollton and Trotwood.

“We’ve had them for about a year, and we’ve already seen a decrease in accidents,” West Carrollton police Chief Rick Barnhart said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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