Assemblyman: 'No Improvements' From NJ Red Light Camera Program
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- New Jersey turned the light out on its red light camera program in December 2014, with plans to review the data to see if their trial run worked.
However, as the one-year mark of the program's end passes, the New Jersey Department of Transportation has yet to release their findings -- leaving whether or not the plan was truly successful still in the dark, WCBS 880's Levon Putney reported.
'I am very happy they are taking the time to really look at the numbers and to get their last report right, that's a good thing," said state Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Red Bank) said.
Though the official report on whether or not the red light camera program had a positive impact on reducing traffic has been released, O'Scanlon, who has been involved with the project from the start, says not much improvement was cited during the five-year statewide program.
"I have raw data, I got it myself," O'Scanlon said. "And there is no improvement in safety that can be attributed to red light cameras."
O'Scanlon said there were more problems than benefits -- over $4 million in tickets were refunded because yellow lights were not properly timed, and the state ordered 17,000 tickets thrown out because they were mailed out too late.
According to website NJ.com, cameras have been removed from 73 intersections in 25 towns for data collection purposes.
Last year, New Jersey drivers said the red light cameras at Bergen and Edsall boulevards in Palisades Park, New Jersey, do more harm than good.
Since the program expired, new legislation would be required to bring the program back into effect.
