Traffic light cameras yield mixed results

LEWISTON – A federally funded pilot program involving the use of cameras to curb red-light running at five intersections in Lewiston and Auburn has yielded mixed results.

There was a dramatic drop in the number of motorists running red lights at two of the sites, but the cameras proved ineffective at three other locations.

Per Garder, the University of Maine engineering professor who conducted the study, said the fact that violators were not subject to penalties probably had a lot to do with why the cameras were not more successful.

By law, police are not allowed to issue fines for red-light runners caught on camera. Instead of tickets, police mailed warnings to drivers, notifying them that the fine for running a red light is $126.

“Warnings work for some people, those that might run a light by mistake,” Garder said. “But others, you need to fine them to have an effect.”

The pilot program is funded by a $40,000 federal highway grant. The Maine Department of Transportation could ask the Legislature to let police issue fines based on the photographic tickets if Garder’s study shows cameras can make a difference.

But Garder said the results were not as good as he had hoped. “It would have been simpler had the results been more obvious,” he said.

The cameras, placed at two intersections in Lewiston and three in Auburn, caught 4,751 red-light runners. The project began in December and ended in June.

The number of scofflaws declined at two sites, remained constant at two others and actually increased at a fifth location.