Red light camera on Center Point Road goes live at midnight

Nearly all of the red light camera systems will be live when another one starts snapping pictures tonight at midnight.

Police will be now be monitoring northbound traffic on Center Point Road NE where it intersects with the eastbound Collins Road NE ramp. Speeding or running the red light after 12:01 a.m. Saturday will prompt an automatic citation.

This will be the seventh intersection to be monitored. They are:

• First Avenue East at 10th Street
• Second Avenue and 10th Street SE
• First Avenue and L Street SW
• Second Avenue and Third Street SW
• Second Avenue and Sixth Street SW
• Edgewood Road and 42nd Street NE
• Center Point Road and Collins Road NE

Interstate 380 traffic is also currently monitored in the northbound lanes at the Diagonal Drive interchange, and another camera inside a red Jeep has been catching speeders at various locations around the city.

Police reported that drivers seem to have to changed their behavior following the installation of the traffic cameras, especially on the interstate.

On Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the mobile speed camera was parked on I-380. More than 16,500 vehicles passed by, but only 78 were going more than 12 mph over the 55 mph speed limit, police said.

Police Chief Greg Graham said he was encouraged by the results.

“There is no reason why we could not get this to zero violations,” Graham said. “With the reduction of speed, we have seen a significant reduction in car crashes, as well.”

Graham noted there were four fatality accidents last year on Interstate 380, but there have been zero on the interstate so far in 2010.

“If these cameras are saving lives, they are worth it,” Graham said.

The final cameras will be installed at Williams Boulevard and 16th Avenue SW, and along southbound I-380 at H Avenue. Those cameras will start generating citations later this summer, police said.