Red light, speed cameras generate 1,240 tickets so far

Red light and speed cameras are catching enough violations to issue an average of 41 tickets per day, police said Wednesday.

Three red light cameras and a mobile speed vehicle have been snapping images of violators since March 14. A fourth camera has since been added at Second Avenue and Third Street SW.

Through the first 30 days of operation, 1,240 tickets have been issued to violators caught by the automated enforcement system. An additional 727 possible violations were recorded, but officers decided they did not warrant tickets. Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said some simply weren't true violations and others had unreadable license plates.

The red light cameras, which also detect speeders, are rolling at First Avenue East and 10th Street, and along Second Avenue at 10th Street SE, Second Street SW and Sixth Street SW. A fifth camera at Edgewood Road and 42nd Street NE will start recording violations Sunday.

Police have used the mobile speed vehicle in school zones, residential areas, Interstate 380 and Highways 30 and 100. It has produced the most tickets, at 767.

Here is a breakdown of the violations by intersection:

INTERSECTION                                                RED LIGHT                   SPEED                BOTH

First Avenue East (eastbound)/10th Street             39                              N/A                      0

First Avenue East (westbound)/10th Street            107                             N/A                      0

Second Avenue/10th Street SE                             108                            150                       6

Second Avenue/Sixth Street SW                           23                               40                        0

Mobile Speed Vehicle                                         N/A                            767                      N/A