Two More Intersections to Get Red Light Cams

Motorists, take note. Two additional intersections in town have been cleared for the installation of red light cameras.

The devices, already installed at two intersections in town, snap photographs of drivers whose vehicles enter an intersections after the traffic light has turned red. The owner of the vehicle is then mailed an $85 ticket that carries no points.

The new intersections that will be outfitted with the devices are Route 88 and Post Road, near the old Laurelton School; and the intersection of Route 70 and Brick Boulevard.

"What we found was that there were severe accidents there, many accidents there," said Councilman Domenick Brando. "Hopefully these cameras will prevent people from getting hurt."

Brando said accidents at the Route 88 and Post Road intersection included one this year where a .

"We did review it, we looked at the numbers and were pretty shocked at what we saw," Brando said, adding that state officials working with Brick as part of a pilot program that is studying whether red light cameras should be allowed statewide identified the two intersections as having a high number of crashes.

"I travel ... every morning and, without fail, two mornings out of every week, if I don't hesitate when the light turns green, I'd get hit," said Councilman John Catalano, of the Route 88–Post Road intersection.

No taxpayer money will be used to fund the installation of cameras, said Business Administrator Scott Pezarras. A private company, American Traffic Solutions, provides cameras for the intersections of Chambers Bridge Road and Brick Boulevard and Chambers Bridge Road and Route 70. The company takes an initial $17,800 monthly cut of ticket revenue each month and the township receives the rest. If $17,800 is not generated, the company takes all of that month's revenue, but the township is not responsible for the difference.

Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni said Tuesday that the current red light cameras have video capabilities that have aided police in accident investigations and insurance companies in determining who is at fault in accidents.

"It has a lot of side benefits that we didn't plan on initially, but it's working pretty well," said Sangiovanni.

Once the cameras are installed at the two new intersections, township officials will announce a 30 day grace period before actual tickets begin to be mailed out. There is no solid date as to when the cameras will be installed, Pezarras said, as plans must be finalized with the vendor who will install the devices.

Brick is one of 17 municipalities in New Jersey that are currently operating red light cameras in the pilot program. It is the only Ocean County municipality that is participating.