Some of Lakeland's brightest have asked how it is possible that none of Lakeland's finest have committed a red light camera violation. Well, one has. We have the video. Check inside...
Thanks to a Lakeland Local reader, attorney Kemp Brinson, we have an update to the Red Light Cameras Money Matters story. In Fall 2008, I reported the formula used in the article. It was based on conversations with Lakeland city officials and an ATS representative. It was hinged on a monthly pool of citations. This morning, Brinson pointed out the contract was based on a daily pool of citations. In a conversation with the city this morning, they agreed the pool is daily. See inside for details...
We took our Lakeland Local camera out to a couple of the red light cameras last night. Here's a minute of what we found...
The red light camera sign on South Florida South of Beacon doesn't command the attention it should. Check inside for some photos of the subject.
The red light cameras we've written about since March 2007 are now live in Lakeland. This morning the first 9 cameras started shooting citation photos and video. As previously noted, there will be no grace period. Check the end of the column for a list of our previous articles on Lakeland's red light cameras. This article has been updated. Please see Red Light Cameras Money Matters More
We reported Friday that the commissioners were prepared to approve red light cameras for Lakeland. They did so Monday. They left it up to City staff to negotiate with the RLC company, American Traffic Solutions, to find a start date for the cameras. It will depend how long it takes to install and calibrate the cameras and train Lakeland Police officers to use the citation verification software. Expect the signs to start appearing in early January. After more than 18 months of dealing with these cameras they will soon be a reality. I've prepared a Red Light Camera FAQ to answer questions about the cameras, the costs, the revenues, and more. You might be interested in this one FAQ question:
From the tone of the City Commissioners at this morning's agenda meetings, it appears Lakeland will soon have red light cameras. The company Lakeland choose to install the cameras, American Traffic Solutions, presented the commissioners with the results of this week's testing. Various city intersections were watched for an eight hour period each. The numbers of red light runners were: 51 - Northbound South Florida Ave. at North Parkway Frontage Road 40 - Southbound North Florida Ave. at Memorial Blvd. 33 - Eastbound Memorial Blvd at North Florida Ave. 32 - Westbound Memorial Blvd. at North Florida Ave. 31 - Northbound North Florida Ave. at Memorial Blvd 17 - Southbound South Florida Ave. at Polk Parkway Off Ramp East Those numbers indicate the top six violation locations. Of course, none of the violations were checked by Lakeland Police Department officers. The test simply indicated the number of violations that ATS would send to LPD to be checked. Officers will have the option to reject violations for a number of reasons.
It looks like red light cameras are a step closer to being installed in Lakeland. See the map of proposed camera locations at Lakeland Local.
Red light cameras are coming! What pitfalls, problems, and options face the city commissioners? Read Lakeland Local for yet another red light camera article.
I've created a map of Lakeland's Top 10 Crash Locations at Signalized Intersections based on data supplied by the Lakeland Police Department.
My first rule about this website should have been: no series. Lakeland Local isn’t my paying gig. It also has to fall below family needs. I should have known as soon as I started the Red Light Camera series, I’d be interrupted. Today, we’re easing back in with a report on yesterday’s Lakeland Police Department [...]
We’re a little more than halfway through our series of posts on red light cameras. I have to put off continuing the series until next Friday. If you’ve missed any of the first three posts they’re linked here. You’ll also have time to read all those studies. There will be a short quiz. Please bring [...]
You’re rushing home on North Florida. Traffic moves well since I-4 construction ended. You’re almost to the intersection as the light turns yellow. One second: You check traffic in the intersection. Clear, you can keep going. Two seconds: You check your speed. At the limit, but you can safely stop. Three seconds: You check your [...]
Now that we see how red light cameras work we have to ask “Why do we need them?” In Lakeland, the answer is you. You’re running red lights. Well, by you we primarily mean younger drivers with older cars. That’s according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. They’re a big player [...]
Over the last couple of weeks Inside, a Ledger editorial, and Empirical Polk, wrote about Lakeland’s proposed red light cameras. Today marks the first in a series that will take a look at the cameras that might spout up at Lakeland intersections. Installing red light cameras is a controversial subject. As with any such subject [...]
Bio: The short line? Father, husband, writer. My online presence is primarily through as the editor, writer, and occasional photographer for the news sites, Lakeland Local, a sampling of the news, concerns, and events for Lakeland, Florida, and Metro i4 News, which covers the Interstate 4 corridor in Central Florida. Both sites feature the work of myself and other contributors. As a hobby, I manage a forum and some web sites that feature a pulp fiction series written by Lester Dent -- Doc Savage Organized, Doc Savage Info, and Flearun.
