The Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act has given cities and counties in Florida the authority since 2010, to use photo enforcement technology to fine those that run red lights, by installing cameras at intersections to record license plates, and issuing civil citations to the registered owners of the vehicle.
The cameras are used to largely automate the process of recording drivers committing a red light violation. In short, as a driver passes over a sensor in the intersection while the traffic signal is red, a camera is activated, taking pictures of the driver and their rear license plate. After the violation is recorded, a trained enforcement professional reviews the tape in order to verify the accuracy of the data collected and if appropriate a citation is issued, which is then mailed. The city has been working with American Traffic Solutions since October of 2010 having adopted an automated red light camera enforcement program. Based on the number of collisions that occur along U.S. Highway 19 and red light violations at monitored intersections, as well as measures of crash severity it appears that the program of traffic enforcement efforts should be continued in order mitigate these factors further.
As you already know, the city’s contract with American Traffic Solutions dba Verra Mobility will lapse on August 8, 2022. In that regard, discussions have occurred with Verra Mobility in respect to continuing the city’s relationship with them in respect to the use of their equipment in regard to the automated red light camera enforcement program. Incidentally, Verra Mobility currently operates camera systems at the following five locations in the city:
- North Bound: U.S. Highway 19 at Trouble Creek Road
- North Bound: U.S. Highway 19 at Floramar Terrace
- North Bound: U.S. Highway 19 at Gulf Drive
- South Bound: U.S. Highway 19 at Gulf Drive
- West Bound: U.S. Highway 19 at Main Street
The terms of the current agreement with Verra Mobility specifies that the city charge per month is $4,000 per camera. As a condition of renewal Verra mobility is willing to reduce their fee to $ 3,800 for up to a three-year period of time which by the way is an annual cost reduction of $12,000. In addition to the annual cost savings Verra Mobility has agreed to a one-time payment of $10,000 to be used by the city to purchase two portable speed detection devices which will be used by the police department in their traffic education and enforcement efforts. Lastly, the proposal contains a renewal option for two (2) year periods of time at the sole discretion of the City Council.