UPDATED: SMILE YOU'RE ON BARRY CAM

Originally posted on October 28, 2011. Please see update below.

Committeeman Barry Wright, Director of Public Safety, 2nd a motion to approve an ordinance to permit the installation of traffic cameras in Winslow Township. Both the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Courier-Post have published articles explaining that traffic cameras often cause accidents instead of preventing them. You may review both newspaper articles using the links provided below. In addition to a copy of the ordinance Barry Wright 2nd the motion during a meeting when there was no television camera present. UNofficially Winslow was present and recorded the meeting. A video clip has also been inserted below.

Barry Cam ordinance
Courier-Post/USA Today
Red-light traffic camera deals under scrutiny

Philadelphia Inquirer
Red-light cameras' effect on accidents is debatable




UPDATE: JUNE 20, 2012


Most Red Light Camera Programs Suspended – List Of Cameras By: Kevin McArdle  ( NJ 101.5 News)

Yesterday Governor Chris Christie today has decided to suspend most of the Red Light Running Automated Enforcement Program (RLR) until towns in the pilot program can certify that the timing on the yellow light signal conforms to the prescribed statute. 21 of the 25 municipalities participating in the program have not obtained independent certification for 63 of the 85 traffic lights in the pilot. For now, 22 of the cameras can still operate as usual. “ The 21 affected towns must perform an analysis of their traffic lights. If the analysis shows that the duration of a yellow light meets the minimum timing as required by the law, municipalities will be allowed to issue tickets for violations that occur during the suspension period. WHAT RED LIGHT CAMERAS ARE AFFECTED? The violation suspension and signal re-certification directives affect all cameras installed at intersections in the following 19 municipalities: Red light camera in Brick (Jason Allentoff, Townsquare Media NJ) Brick Cherry Hill East Windsor Edison Englewood Cliffs Glassboro Lawrence Linden Monroe Newark Palisades Park Piscataway Pohatcong Rahway Roselle Park Springfield (Union County) Stratford Union Township Wayne The order affects one location in each of the following two municipalities: Jersey City at JFK Boulevard (CR 501) and Communipaw Avenue Woodbridge at Route 1 and Avenel Street. The intersections not affected by the directives include one in Deptford, one in East Brunswick, four in Gloucester and one in New Brunswick. Additionally, 12 of 13 intersections equipped with cameras in Jersey City and three of four intersections in Woodbridge are excluded from the directives. RED LIGHT CAMERAS: Full list of Red Light Camera intersections (PDF) “The concerns expressed by many who questioned the RLR program were taken into consideration by the Christie administration and suspending the program until towns can certify that RLR signals are properly timed is the right move,” says Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon. “Towns were using this pilot program as auto ticket issuing machines and a way to generate revenue. Improving safety is a laudable goal, but not at the expense of punishing innocent drivers.” According to New Jersey’s Deptarment of Transportation, 21 of the 25 municipalities participating in the program have not obtained independent certification for 63 of the 85 traffic lights in the pilot. According to the Texas Transportation Institute, a yellow signal, shortened by one second, can increase the number of tickets issued by 110 percent. For some time, O’Scanlon has been concerned about the timing of the traffic signals. He believes they are intended to create revenue opportunities for municipalities without improving safety as proponents of the law contend. The RLR was signed into law on January 13, 2008, by former Governor Jon Corzine and implemented by that administration. O’Scanlon contends the implementation wasn’t done according to the statute – which itself was designed so as not to punish innocent people.