by Davy James, Staff Writer
Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said having a traffic enforcement camera installed at the intersection of Route 1 and Henderson Road will deter motorists from running red lights and improve traffic safety.
”This is a program that doesn’t cost the township anything,” Chief Hayducka said during the meeting. “It’s a use of technology to make the roadways safer in South Brunswick.”
Chief Hayducka explained to the Township Council on Tuesday the benefits of having the light installed. The light is part of a state Department of Transportation program that provides traffic enforcement cameras to municipalities. Those municipalities presented the DOT with locations that have demonstrated a history of violations and crashes related to running red lights.
During the discussion, Chief Hayducka explained the process for acceptance into the program and the potential benefits it could bring to roadway safety. The program is designed to determine whether a traffic signal monitoring system can be a long-term tool to increase safety at particular areas, according to the DOT.
The township also is hoping for approval from the DOT on a second red light camera that would be installed at the intersection of Route 1 and Black Horse Lane.
Companies are bidding to land the DOT contract to provide the camera service. Once set up, the cameras would take seven different photos of the intersection and vehicles as well as the vehicles’ license plates. The cameras would have a timing device that records the number of seconds the light is yellow before turning red.
The company that is awarded the bid would issue the summons to motorists caught in violations and also would send the photos of the violation to the South Brunswick Police Department for inspection. The summons would carry no points and would be a fine of $85, according to Chief Hayducka.
Motorists still would have the right to appeal the summons, such as an instance where they can prove they weren’t driving the vehicle at the time of the violation, according to Chief Hayducka. He said police would have the ability to examine violation photos and use their discretion if a summons was issued unfairly.
”I’m always leery of a big brother situation,” said Councilman Chris Killmurray during the meeting. “I think it’s important that the Police Department has the ability to utilize their discretion.”
The program would carry a one-year commitment, and at the end of that time, the results can be analyzed before further commitment. The council expressed its support for the potential benefits of the program.
But one of the key components would be signage that acts as a deterrent to reckless driving at the intersection, according to Public Affairs Coordinator Ron Schmalz.
”This is not only a tool for enforcement, but also an educational tool that’s important,” Mr. Schmalz said. “The signage alone is enough to keep people from running red lights.”
