Community Corner

East Brunswick Gets to Keep Red Light Camera

Analysis shows that the yellow period at some these lights are insufficient.

East Brunswick will still be allowed to issue summonses resulting from its red light enforcement camera.

However, on Tuesday the state Department of Transportation told 21 other municipalities that they have to stop using the cameras after video evidence provided by the cameras showed that the  timing of "yellow" periods at the lights was wrong. Legislation authorizing the cameras requires a formula to determine the proper duration of the yellow light in a traffic signal. The formula differs from the one used for most other state roads.

East Brunswick has one such camera at the intersection of Tices Lane and Route 18. Councilman Michael Hughes said East Brunswick was found to be compliant.

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“East Brunswick is not one of those towns. Our cameras were found to be consistent with the law and have been operating in a fair manner,” he said.

He said towns may have been non-compliant because of the time and effort it takes to properly calibrate the lights.

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"It’s another example of towns cutting corners all the time, especially with budgets the way they are nowadays. But East Brunswick is one of those towns that’s able to keep the program. Whether you like it or not, you have to follow the law.”

State officials said most yellow lights follow the legally required engineering and safety standards in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which requires a minimum duration of the yellow light to equal one-tenth of the posted speed limit on the approaching road.

For example, where the approaching road has a posted speed of 40 mph, the signal must display yellow for a minimum of four seconds. The DOT rounds up to the nearest whole second, so in instances where the approaching speed limit is 45 mph, the signal displays a yellow light for five seconds.

The formula in the legislation that determines camera program eligibility, however, requires an analysis of vehicle speeds as they approach the intersection where a red light camera installation is proposed. The formula requires a yellow signal of at least three seconds if at least 85 percent of the approaching traffic travels at speeds of 25 mph or less.

For each increase of 5 mph in vehicle speed above 30 mph, the minimum duration of the yellow light must be increased by 0.5 seconds, according to the legislation.

This requirement, officials said, is there to ensure that the traffic signal is timed properly to provide motorists with sufficient time to avoid a violation and fine by entering an intersection when the light is red.

Under the state's directive, municipalities must conduct traffic analyses and submit certifications to the DOT by Aug. 1.

If the analysis shows that the duration of a yellow light meets the minimum duration as required by the legislation, a municipality will be permitted to issue violation notices for violations that occur during the suspension period, and continue issuing violation notices.

If the analysis shows that a signal does not display a yellow light long enough to meet the formula in the legislation, that intersection will be removed from the pilot program.

. The 24-hour camera captures images of every vehicle running a red light at the intersection. The program is administered by American Traffic Solutions, Inc., with each violation reviewed and approved by the East Brunswick Police Department prior to being issued.

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, but Hughes said that as long as he is council president, he will not allow the proposal to be put on an agenda.

Head of the Finance Department Head Lou Neely said that for every violation received, the county spends $2 on an automation fee; 98 cents on spinal research; $1 for autism; 50 cents for Emergency Medical Technicians; 2 cents for more spinal research; $1 for brain injuries; $1 for the body armor replacement fund; $2 for DNA testing; and $3 for the ATS modernization fund.

However, over the course of the year since the camera has been working, the township can expect to recoup $85,534.82 from the county for administrative work.

Police officials say the light has been effective in reducing the number of accidents at the intersection and that it brings a heightened awareness to the area’s danger.


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