Kingsport collects $217,900 from red light cameras
Posted by: vhasler
N 36° 29.095 W 082° 30.184
17S E 365361 N 4038785
Most of the violations (2,960) were captured by the camera at Fort Henry Drive and Lebanon Road
Waymark Code: WM65AY
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 04/05/2009
Views: 4
While multiple locations are cited in the newspaper article, I am just waymarking to the top spot as given in the short description. Fort Henry is the NW-SE road intersecting Lebanon Road (south) and Colonial Heights Road (north). Camera will activate if entering intersection from east (heading towards Kingsport) after the red traffic light has begun -- or also if right-on-red fails to stop for at least three seconds before proceeding.
Kingsport collects $217,900 from red light cameras; 1/3 of potential tickets not processed
By Kacie Breeding
Published March 30th, 2009
Thousands of drivers passing through Kingsport may have seen the flash of a red light camera behind them but never received a citation.
According to the Kingsport Police Department's annual report, only 16,238 citations were mailed in 2008 out of a possible 24,357 red light violations captured by Redflex Traffic Systems equipment.
Factors such as license plate obstructions, sun glare, multiple vehicles in the same frame, safe turns on red, and weather conditions led to 6,243 citations being discarded. Officers reviewed the remaining 18,114 and dismissed another 1,876 for similar reasons.
The city received $217,900 net from the citations that were prosecuted, according to city officials. Redflex got $487,900.
The money goes toward the pay of officers who review the violations and records clerks who process the fines as well as toward Redflex fees. "After personal services and other expenses the remaining balance goes into a police technology fund to help pay for capital equipment such as PDAs," city spokesman Tim Whaley said. The current contract has allowed for the installation of 10 cameras at red lights across the Model City. The contract, Whaley said, expires Dec. 27. Seven were installed in 2007, and the last three cameras went online in the first quarter of 2008.
Most of the violations (2,960) were captured by the camera at Fort Henry Drive and Lebanon Road, with the second highest violation count on Stone Drive at the Clinchfield Street (2,579).
There currently are no plans to install any additional cameras or to use the speed function on existing Redflex cameras, Whaley said.
The possibility of bidding for new contracts currently is being evaluated.