Red Light Camera Revenue Tops $570K in Clearwater

The city has issued thousands of red light camera violations raking in more than $570,000 during the six month pilot program.

The city splits the $158 fine with the state. The state gets $100 of every ticket, and the city splits its revenues with Redflex Traffic Systems, the Arizona company that installs and maintains the cameras.

About $300,000 went to the state, $201,000 to the city and $72,000 for the employees who oversee the program, according to a presentation planned for city leaders Tuesday. Clearwater pays Redflex $13,000 a month.

If the six-month trial is successful, the city will be locked into the contract for another two and a half years or pay a fee to get out of it. The pilot program’s success is dependent on a 15 percent decrease in violations and if it is cost neutral.

It could cost the city at least $54,000 to get out of the contract by July 1.

The cameras were installed in July 2012 and warnings were issued to violators. Red light running violations at intersections with cameras have decreased each month since fines started to be issued.

The system has helped police in criminal and crash investigations and is financially self sustaining, so far, according to the report.

Red light camera violations:

• 905- July
• 1,358- August
• 1,036- September
• 907- October
• 834- November
• 880-December

Related coverage:

• Pinellas Clerk Asks Clearwater to Stop Writing Red Light Camera Tickets
• Cameras Cut Red Light Running in Clearwater
• Red Light Cameras Reducing Crashes in Florida
• Red Light Camera Locations in Clearwater
• Red Light Cameras Coming to Clearwater
• Red Light Cameras Running in Clearwater
• City Approved Red Light Camera Proposal

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