By Dale M. King
BOCA RATON – The city is about to get what Mayor Susan Whelchel calls “the equivalent of a police officer” 24/7 at five dangerous intersections in the city.
On a sharply split vote at a recent meeting, the council voted 3-2 to approve the installation of cameras to take a photo of red light runners. It
Signs like this will warn Boca motorists of intersections where red light runner cameras have been installed. The signs will also say that a right turn on red faster than 11 mph is also an infraction
will cost the offending driver $158 for the infraction if he or she can’t prove there were “extenuating circumstances” involved.
The cameras will not only capture an image of the rear license plate of a car as it passes through the red signal at an intersection, but it will also note drivers making right turns at a speed of more than 11 mph, said Assistant Police Chief Edgar Morley two presentations to the council.
Signs will be posted at the intersections, warning of the cameras, and noting that “fast” right turns are also a violation.
When the vote came, Mayor Whelchel and Council members Mike Mullaugh and Constance Scott voted in favor of the so-called “traffic infraction detectors.” Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie and Councilman Anthony Majhess voted against them.
Chief Morley said the city studied various intersections and came up with the five that are the worst. He said the number of “approaches” actually totals seven because the cameras will be set up eastbound and westbound at two of the crossroads.
Intersections getting cameras, the council decided, are:
East and west approaches at NW 15th Avenue and Glades Road.
- Northbound approach of St. Andrews Boulevard and Yamato Road.
- Southbound approach of St. Andrews Boulevard and Glades Road.
- Eastbound approach to Clint Moore Road and Military Trail.
- East and west approaches to St. Andrews Boulevard and Glades Road
Morley said the cameras can be moved to other intersections, if the city desires.
Actually, another red light runner camera has already been put up west of the city limits, at Palmetto Park and Powerline roads. That was done after the Board of County Commissioners approved a red light runner camera.
Morley said the debate about whether getting caught on camera running a red light was a civil or statutory infraction was rendered moot July 1, 2010, when the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act went into effect. Wandall was killed by a car that went through a red light in 2003. Gov. Charlie Crist signed the legislation creating the law on May 13.
Approval of the ordinance clears the way for the city to select a contractor to install the cameras. Morley said the entire system will not go on line until all the cameras are in. He said there will be 30-day grace period before citations are issued.
He noted there is an appeals process allowing drivers to sign an affidavit saying they were not driving or the car was stolen, among other ways of opting out of the ticket. Morley did say, however, that the owner of the car is responsible for paying the citation. The $158 fine was set by the state.