Red light cameras nab 400 Austin drivers

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- Red light cameras have caught more than 400 drives running red lights in just over two months. Many of those drivers, however, are choosing to ignore those tickets.

"For the most part, we've not had a lot of response," said Austin Municipal Court Clerk Rebecca Stark. "We've not had a lot of calls. We've not had a lot of people coming in."  

Less than one-quarter of the people who have been cited have paid the $75 dollar fine, and only one person has requested a hearing.

The city pays about $5,000 a month to maintain each camera but has only collected about $6,000 in fines.  

Just two cameras are currently operational. The first, at 11th Street and Interstate 35, went up in late May. A second followed on Riverside Drive at Pleasant Valley on June 13.

Three additional cameras will go online in mid-August, and the final four cameras will be phased in before the end of the year.  

Camera critics have argued that they will cause a rise in the number of rear-end crashes, but Austin Police Lt. Ken Cannaday said that simply has not happened so far.

No rear-end crashes have been reported at 11th and I-35 since the camera went up, but there have been three at Riverside and Pleasant Valley.  

"I don't see a significant upward trend at this point, but I do think we need to let it run a little while longer," said Lt. Cannaday. "It's been just a short period. It's in it's infancy."  

The City of Austin identified nine dangerous intersections where red light cameras could help limit the number of serious accidents.  

One of the first red light tickets in Austin went to Todd Holt when the camera at 11th and I-35 had been up for less than 24 hours and caught his 19-year-old old son flying through the intersection.  

"There's no disputing it," said Todd Holt. "If you look at the picture, it's very obvious that you're running a red light. I now assume all of the red lights have cameras, so I'm more conscientious about stopping at these red lights."  

The citations go from $75 to $100 if they're not paid in the first 30 days.

The violation is civil and does not go on your driving record, but the Municipal Court can turn your name over to a collection agency if the citation is not paid.