Red Light Cameras Could Come to Borough
The council authorized police to sign up for a waiting list requesting traffic cameras
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Traffic Safety Officer Robert Sweetin told the Chatham Borough Council Monday that he will get the borough onto a waiting list for red light cameras.
The Traffic Safety Committee requested Sweetin to look into red light cameras for downtown. However, progress was somewhat derailed when the Department of Transportation suspended issuing any new summonses for red light cameras due to a question about the timing of yellow lights. The suspension began June 19.
According to Sweetin, "it was argued in court that the lights and the timing [was off, with] yellow lights not being long enough."
Yellow lights are usually based on how long it would take a pedestrian to safely walk across the street, given the posted speed limit. "What they argued in court was, what's in the books and what's reality could be two different things, so the court instructed them to get 85 percent of what the actual traffic speed is and calculate [yellow lights] off of there."
Of the 63 red light cameras in use in the state of New Jersey, Sweetin said speed testing has been done to make the yellow lights more applicable to real traffic speed patterns. However, the suspension on new summonses remains in place while the DOT reviews the results.
"So there's no need for us to be moving forward quickly on this," Mayor Bruce Harris said. Sweetin agreed, "except be aware that there is a waiting list. If we do decide to do it, we need to get on the waiting list."
Two companies currently operate red light cameras in the state, including American Traffic Solutions (ATS). There are about 25 towns currently on the waiting list to get red light cameras, Sweetin said.
Harris asked what was involved in getting on the waiting list. Sweetin said he had arranged a meeting Thursday for Councilman James Collander, the council's liaison to the Traffic Safety Committee, to discuss what it takes.
"Really, [it's] not much," Sweetin said. The borough takes on no cost or obligation to get the light by going onto the waiting list. "There's no out-of-[pocket money], no contracts to sign, we just say we want to be approached, we want the data done," Sweetin said.
When Council President James Lonergan asked if there was any reason not to get on the list or get a red light camera, Sweetin responded, "My professional opinion to you is, anything that makes it safer for all of our kids, and us, to walk downtown, and the motoring public, we should be on the waiting list."
The council agreed to have Sweetin sign the borough onto the waiting list for a red light camera after Collander's meeting Thursday.
Collander was not present at the time of the discussion. However, he has been on the Traffic Safety Committee for over a year and was involved in several key projects, including the Kings Road pedestrian safety project.
Sir
7:36 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Police state. When is enough enough? The citizens of Chatham need to express their displeasure on this - and if needed, vote out those who support this. Our freedom is being taken away inch by inch - red light cameras, then speed cameras then jay walking. It's not going to stop unless the people speak and act.
regcollins
8:50 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
While I'm all for making downtown Chatham safer for pedestrians, there have been studies that show accidents actually increase when traffic cameras are installed because people slam on their brakes to avoid a ticket and end up getting rear-ended. It's not a simple yes-or-no decision; all nuances should be weighed before a final decision is reached. See http://bancams.com/get-the-facts/studies/ for links to some studies about negative effects of red light cameras.
kjchat
8:58 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
its been proven that cameras do nothing to improve safety, they are purely revenue generators.. so the question is, when revenues go up due to the cameras, will we see a property tax decrease?
CHAT42
9:01 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Not to mention the companies that supply the red light cameras are privatized. And in other towns in NJ, and all over the country, the questions of intent have been raised about these companies. The more tickets generated the more cameras purchased. So altering the timing of the traffic lights are in best interest of the private companies. Just the slightest decrease in time from yellow to red could bring in thousands of dollars more for the town and red light camera companies. This is not in the best interest of the tax payers. And for all those out there that are going to complain that I don't care about the safety of others, I'm a mother of 2 children under 18yrs of age, and have lived in this town for 42 years.
R. Swanson
9:51 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
This is absolutely ridiculous, and I'm disappointed in our Council for not posing the tough questions to Officer Sweetin's weak presentation, and for authorizing Sweetin to put the town on the waiting list. Agree totally with Sir and kjchat - this nothing but is a further extension of the Big Brother Nanny State into our lives, and a shameless revenue grab with no evidence it will improve safety one iota. Where is the hard data that proves that a town like Chatham even needs to consider a red light camera? Is running red lights an epidemic problem in Chatham? Are people killed or threatened to be killed every day? Will govenment not stop until its citizens are wrapped in bubble wrap, completly safe from all potential risks that they may confront? Officer Sweetin and the Traffic Safety Committee would serve the residents of Chatham much better by getting a left turn signal installed at the corner of Hillside and Main, rather than imposing Big Brother on us to address what in my view is a non-issue.
Kelly
10:45 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I think its a great idea. I hope they get them.
park in the back
1:08 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Just a money maker plain and simple - absolutely nothing to do with safety or even addressing an issue. (There was a recent editorial in the Star Ledger that made some excellent points about this.)
Way to go Council members - another way to stick it to your constituency! Too sad, too bad for residents...guess the Mayor can only generate excitement about maintaining our "village look" with overnight parking rules.
Jacob Huck
2:21 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012
Please see Chatham Police blotter Sept. 14 2011 when a Chatham police office crossed the yellow line and struck another vehicle. TSO Sweetin did a stand up job sweeping that incident under the rug...