In June of 2006, the Hazelwood City Council passed an ordinance
No. 3754-06 §1, titled
“Violation of Public Safety at Intersections and the Automated Photo Enforcement
of Traffic Control Signal Regulations”, which authorized the placement
and enforcement red light cameras to
improve public safety by reducing accidents caused by red light violations. The
ordinance can be reviewed by clicking on this link
Section 315.095 to the Hazelwood City Code.
The City of
Hazelwood’s first red light enforcement cameras were installed and operational in March 2007.
Live enforcement began in April of 2007. The first intersections to have red light
cameras installed were N. Lindbergh Blvd. at Elm Grove Ln. and N. Lindbergh Blvd.
at James S. McDonnell Blvd. Since then the City Council has authorized additional
red light cameras at these intersections; N. Lindbergh Blvd. at
Utz Ln.
in July 2007, N . Lindbergh Blvd. at Dunn Rd./Lynn Haven/ Taylor Rd. in August 2007,
N Hanley Rd. at Pershall in August 2007, and N. Lindbergh Blvd. at Fee Fee Hills
Dr. in September 2007.
Red light cameras are triggered by sensors which are activated when a vehicle violates
a steady red light signal or violates a right turn on steady red signal. The cameras
take two digital photos which document the violation and are mailed to the owner
of the vehicle with the citation. Included on the citation is a web link for the
owner to view the actual recorded video of the violation when it occurred. The program
operates 24 hours a day and operates in all weather conditions. The system is only
activated when a vehicle violates a steady red light signal and all intersections
with red light cameras are clearly marked with signs indicating “Photo Enforcement”.
The violation is issued to the registered owner and is not considered a “point violation”
on the owner's driving record. The fine for this violation is $100.00.
City of Hazelwood traffic ordinance (315.060) states that vehicular traffic facing
a steady red signal alone shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side
of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall
remain standing until a green indication is shown except they may cautiously enter
the intersection to make a right turn but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection, unless
otherwise prohibited by a posted sign.
The main focus of the Red Light Enforcement program is to change bad driving habits
of operators, reduce injuries, reduce accidents at intersections and ensure compliance
of public safety traffic laws.
Click here to view examples of bad driving habits.
Hazelwood Police Chief Carl Wolf has discovered that since the implementation of
the automated traffic enforcement program, the accident rate at the intersections
with cameras has decreased. In addition, the number of violations that had occurred
when the cameras were first activated compared to the current activity has also
dropped dramatically. This shows that the program is having a positive effect on
the community and causing a change in the driver’s behavior.
The City of
Hazelwood
contracts with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to operate the program. ATS
is a leading provider of technology and business solutions that support the growing
worldwide requirements for electronic toll and traffic enforcement management.
ATS provides services to more than 100 clients with more than 1,000 cameras throughout
the
United States
,
Canada
, and
New
Zealand
. Nearly 25
Missouri
communities are currently working with ATS to provide photo safety programs, including
St.
Louis
City
,
Florissant
,
Arnold
, Creve Coeur and Sugar Creek.