New rules restricting the use of red light cameras have resulted in a sharp drop in citations. Drivers caught turning right on red without coming to a complete stop can no longer get one of the automated tickets in the mail.
Knoxville has one of the largest camera systems in the state. And citations in July – when the law took effect – were down 70 percent from the prior month.
The city of Clarksville has two intersections where drivers were getting $50 fines for not making a complete stop on right turns. One intersection experienced a drop of more than 40 percent. But Clarksville Police Officer Jim Knoll says he doesn’t see a problem.
“If the right on reds weren’t causing accidents, then that’s great. We haven’t seen any giant jumps in accidents at that intersection. It’s not about the revenue for us. It’s about stopping accidents.”
A spokesman for the Murfreesboro police says cameras there weren’t affected by the change in state law. They only ticket drivers for right hand turn violations when a sign is posted.
New restrictions for red light cameras were passed by the legislature this year after opponents argued they were just a revenue generator for some cities.
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