Marion traffic cameras issue more than 1,200 citations in first month

MARION — Traffic cameras at two intersections in Marion issued more than 1,200 citations in the first 30 days after the warning period for the cameras ended.

The cameras were installed over the summer at two Marion intersections — Highway 100 and East Post Road, and Highway 13 and Highway 151 — and went live Aug. 18. For the first 30 days, motorists caught speeding or running a red light received a warning notification in the mail. On Sept. 19, the cameras began issuing traffic citations with monetary fines.

The total number of citations issued in the cameras’ second month of operation was 1,220, down from the 1,650 warnings sent during the first month. But the change in violations varies between the two intersections.

At the Highway 100 and East Post Road intersection, the cameras caught 1,108 red light violations and 127 speeding violations during the warning period, according to the Marion Police Department. During the first month of sending out citations, the cameras caught 304 red light violations and 107 speeding violations.

At the Highway 151 and Highway 13 intersection, violations increased slightly from the first month to the second. There were 389 warning sent in the first month for red light violations and 26 for speeding violations. In the second month, citations were sent out for 781 red light violations and 28 speeding violations, according to police department numbers.

The police department also started operating a mobile speed unit in September, which is deployed based on community complaints. The unit was deployed to 12 locations in the city during the first 30 days and issued 394 speeding citations.

According to Marion Police Chief Mike Kitsmiller, the number of citations issued in the first two months of using the cameras is consistent with the numbers the department saw while collecting data to use in recommending the cameras to the city council.

“We didn’t try and estimate how many citations would be generated by the cameras nor were any revenue projections included in our budget process,” Kitsmiller said. “Our goal, from the beginning, was to keep our community safer by deterring drivers from speeding and running red lights at our two busiest intersections.”

Red light violations carry a fine of $100. Fines for speeding violations start at $75 for 11 mph over the limit, and then vary upward depending on speeds.

Marion traffic cameras fines

There was no upfront cost to the city for the installation of the cameras, but Sensys Gatso — the company that installed the cameras — will receive $35 from every paid citation issued through the traffic cameras.

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