No more grace period for red-light
runners in Pembroke Pine

March 2, 2009

No more grace period for red-light runners in Pembroke Pines
Police now issuing $125 tickets and planning to add cameras to 5 more locations

PEMBROKE PINES - Speeders beware.

Starting Sunday, Pembroke Pines police began issuing $125 tickets to anyone caught on camera blowing through a red light, agency officials said today.

The department will also add cameras to five more intersections in the city by April -- a year after installing the first camera at Pines Boulevard and 129th Avenue that led to 1,833 warning citations being sent to red-light runners.

"The intent of our photo safety program is to deter red-light violators and increase safety for motorists, passengers and pedestrians," Chief Dan Giustino said. "The high number of violations issued during the warning period shows we have a significant red-light running problem in Pembroke Pines."

Related links
• Earlier Coverage: Cameras take aim at red-light runners
The agency installed the pilot red-light camera at Pines Boulevard and 129th Avenue in April 2008. The instrument snapped a photo of any vehicle that ran the light, and allowed officials to run its tag so they could send a warning to the registered owner by first-class mail.

For drivers recorded running red lights as of Sunday, authorities will send out $125 fines instead of warnings.

In the coming weeks, the department will install red-light cameras at these intersections:

• Northbound Dykes Road and Pines Boulevard

• Eastbound Sheridan Street and NW 72nd Avenue

• Eastbound Taft Street and North Hiatus Road

• Northbound North Hiatus Road and Taft Street

• Northbound SW 136th Avenue and Pines Boulevard.

Drivers who receive a citation can log on to www.ViolationInfo.com to see when and where their vehicle was caught running a light and find out how they can pay the fine