Are Those New Red Light Cams Working Yet?

They've been the talk of the town for the past couple of weeks.

Brick residents have known about the approval of additional red light cameras since last summer, but only in the past few weeks were the cameras and flash poles installed at the intersection of Route 70 and Brick Boulevard.

The new cameras will target motorists who run the red light at the busy intersection where the two major roads come together. The cameras were approved in September.

But despite the fact that they've been installed, don't expect to be receiving any tickets in the mail just yet.

The cameras, owned by American Traffic Solutions of Arizona, are currently in a testing phase, according to Business Administrator Scott Pezarras.

The testing phase should be complete by the end of the month, at which time the township will give the required legal notices that the cameras are active. After activation, the cameras will generate warning notices to scofflaw motorists for 30 days.

"They should be up and running, and issuing tickets, the first week of June," said Pezarras.

Plans to erect cameras at yet another intersection, Route 88 and Post Road, have been put off.

Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said additional accident data needs to be collected to comply with state regulations before cameras can be installed at that intersection.

Cameras have already been up and running at the intersections of Route 70 and Chambers Bridge Road and Brick Boulevard and Hooper Avenue for almost two years.

The cameras are allowed in select municipalities, including Brick, as part of a state pilot program.