Debunking Red Light Cam Myths

Ever been waiting at one of the two intersections in Brick with red light cameras and see a random flash?

Don't worry, you're not being photographed. It turns out the camera system recalibrates itself every 18 seconds, and sets off a bright flash in the process.

That was a little bit of the insider knowledge on red light cams that was revealed at Tuesday's Brick Township Council meeting, as council members responded to myths, rumors and urban legends about the cameras.

There's no red light cameras in Toms River, but more are coming to Brick. The program will be expanded to two new intersections – Route 88 and Post Road, near the old Laurelton School; and the intersection of Route 70 and Brick Boulevard – soon.

The council voted unanimously on second reading at the meeting to approve the intersections for camera outfitting. Red light cameras are already active at the Chambers Bridge Road–Route 70 intersection and the Brick Boulevard–Hooper Avenue intersection. Those who run the red lights and are caught by the cameras get an $85 ticket in the mail.

"It's quite simple," said Councilman Domenick Brando. "If you don't run a red light, you're not going to get [a ticket]."

Councilman Dan Toth brought up another rumor: "Mysteriously, the argument comes that we shorten the yellow light" at intersections outfitted with cameras, he said.

"We do not do that," he said, adding that the yellow light at the Brick Boulevard–Hooper intersection was actually lengthened to four seconds from three when the cameras were installed. In fact, he said, only the state and county could change the length of the yellow – technically, amber – light at those intersections, since they are comprised of state and county roads. Brick officials can only manually change lights on state and county roads in the event of a special event, such as when a church is letting out.

If there is a malfunction in the red light camera system, the system detects it automatically, said Business Administrator Scott Pezarras. Then, the police department gets notified.

Vic Fanelli, a resident who often attends council meetings, said he was driving at one of the intersections recently and saw crews testing out the "countdown clock" at the crosswalk signal that shows how much time is left before the light will change. But later, he said, it returned to its usual state of being deactivated.

Council President Brian DeLuca said he would look into the situation and see if the countdown should be activated permanently.

One more tip: The only two intersections in town that are currently outfitted with red light cameras are Chambers Bridge and Route 70 and Brick Boulevard and Hooper. In the near future, the two new intersections will be added to the mix. The camera devices that are clamped on to the traffic light stanchions at other intersections are sensors, similar to driveway light sensors. The purpose of the sensors are to prompt the light to change when cars arrive, not photograph drivers blowing the red light.

As for the argument that the cameras only function to produce revenue, Brando opined on that view:

"I hope we don't make anything from them," he said, urging drivers to be safe and stop at the red light.