Legislature okays bill to extend Phila. red light cameras, expand program to suburbs
The vote came after the midnight expiration date but, apparently, no matter. The legislature approved extending Philadelphia's red light camera program to 2017. The program was to expire on June 30.
Legislature okays bill to extend Phila. red light cameras, expand program to suburbs
UPDATE AND CORRECTION - Here is a revised list of the southeast municipalities that would qualify to install red light traffic cameras:
Bucks County: Falls, Middletown and Warminster Townships;
Delaware County: Springfield Township
Montgomery County: Norristown Borough and Abington, Horsham, Lower Merion, Lower Providence, Montgomery, Upper Dublin and Upper Merion Townships.
As a result, no municipalities represented by House Rep. Greg Vitali would be eligible for cameras.
Our earlier report was based our report on a list provided by AAA. But Senate sources point out the list is based both on population and the presence of an accredited police department. Ninety days after Gov. Corbett signs the bill, which he was expected to do last night, the communities would be able to petition PennDot for approval to run the cameras.
Meanwhile, our colleague Paul Nussbaum reports that the delay on reauthorizing the Philadelphia red light cameras did in fact have consequences. While the cameras still operated, no tickets were processed after the June 30 deadline.We wonder how much blowing that deadline cost Philadelphia and the other muncipalities that benefit from those red light scofflaws in Philadelphia.
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The vote came after the midnight expiration date but, apparently, no matter.
The legislature approved extending Philadelphia's red light camera program to 2017, sending the bill to Gov. Corbett's desk. The program was to expire on June 30.
And there may soon be automated red light cameras beyond the city boundaries.
The bill would extend the use of the cameras in Philadelphia and allow the devices in Pittsburgh and suburban Philadelphia municipalities with at least 20,000 residents and accredited police departments.
That would include Falls, Middletown, and Warminster Townships in Bucks County; West Chester and Tredyffrin, West Goshen, and West Whiteland Townships in Chester County; Chester, Media, and Haverford, Radnor, Springfield, and Upper Darby Townships in Delaware County; and Norristown and Abington, Horsham, Lower Merion, Lower Providence, Montgomery Township, Upper Dublin, and Upper Merion Townships in Montgomery County.
The towns would be required to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for approval for red-light cameras at specific intersections
The bill (HB 243) generated considerable debate into the wee hours as lawmakers scrambled to wrap up non-budget bills before taking their summer break.
That prompted Rep. Greg Vitali, who represents several Delaware County municipalities that would qualify to say: "This is not a one-in-the-morning bill."
Nevertheless, the members voted and the bill passed 113-72, along bipartisan lines.
Click here for Philly.com's politics page.
How did this happen, when nearly HALF the camera's in place don't WORK???— Dadair1- Not sure about that stat. (1/2 cameras don't work) Think that is/was an issue in Jersey. Pretty sure the Philly ones that have been in place for 7 years now are operating at or close to 100%. I'm fine with this. I've been driving through these lights everyday for 7 years now without issue. Its real simple, slow on Yellow + stop on red = don't get a ticket.— kennedy2
- just another way to fleece us out of more money.— Ryan
- Dadair, I think you have confused surveillance cameras with red-light cameras... The red light cameras work really well...
- Ryan, You can't get fleeced if you simply do not run red lights.
- Noted Warminster on this list... great... Now instead of driving on Street Rd/PA 132 stuck behind traffic going 35 MPH in a 45 MPH zone they will slow down to go 25 MPH instead. The entire Commonwealth would be beter served by seriously enforcing the existing driving-with-cellphone laws... more revenue, less accidents, less aggravation for everyone. I-95 is a daily "gold mine" of cell-phoning-drivers, but have yet to see one pulled over, even when they drive between lanes at 20 MPH less than the posted speed limits.— factcheck
- Surprised Radnor Township does not meet both criteria. While I would be concerned about improper violations, there are some intersections in Radnor (with pedestrian traffic) where people blow through red lights and cameras would be welcomed.— MASTERNC
- Yes masternc, one would wonder considering that pathetic outdated Lancaster Pk. On the other hand, as dangerous of a road that is, I am not certain that there is a relative high number of accidents on that road. Could be wrong, not knowing the state statistics.— c45man
- Looks like Montco wins the cash cow prize. Springfield, with Baltimore Pk., a road designed in the early 60s with 2012 traffic, is the only place in delco so far. Delco, in the western end, is state police jurisdiction, and I really don't believe they are going to enter into the money game for the local townships and boroughs. Hope I am not wrong. Depends if the camera presence are of local ordinance or not. PSP does not enforce local ordinances, unless they monitor the cameras per state law and vehicle code. Even if they did, local towns would not get the money from PSP citations.— c45man
- The people who don't like this idea are against more government and I agree. I'm actually shocked that the race and poverty card hasn't been played more aggressively like it's played in other situations in order to exempt people from following the law. Maybe we'll see it when the cameras are installed in a town like Norristown.— AvoidSundanceVacations
