Red light cameras need state approval

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk needs state approval to become the fourth city in the area to install red light photo enforcement.

Norfolk city council voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of camera installation. There will be an engineering analysis before VDOT officials make the final decision.

Chesapeake, Newport News and Virginia Beach already have PHOTOSafe systems.

Drivers in Virginia Beach say they hit the brakes when they know police are watching.

"When I see the red light cameras, if it's yellow, I'll usually just stop," said Brett Cotten of Virginia Beach. "I don't even chance it or anything."

The red light cameras take pictures of vehicles that enter the intersection after the light is red. All photos are reviewed by police. Those in violation face a $50 fine.

Drivers in Norfolk tell 10 On Your Side the cameras will not change their habits.

"I think they're just money makers for the cities and states," said Todd Defreitas, while stopped at the intersection of Brambleton Avenue and Saint Pauls Boulevard.

According to city web sites, the PHOTOsafe system reduces the number of crashes by 40 percent at monitored intersections.

The city of Norfolk identified the following eight intersections as possible camera locations, through a review of traffic patterns and accident data:

* Brambleton Avenue and Colley Avenue
* Brambleton and Saint Pauls Boulevard
* Hampton and Terminal Boulevards
* Chesapeake Boulevard and Little Creek Road
* Virginia Beach Boulevard and Raby Road
* Tidewater Drive and Virginia Beach Blvd
* Military Highway and East Princess Anne and Northampton Boulevard
* East Little Creek Road and Halprin Drive

By law, the number of intersections where a city can have photo enforcement is based on that city's population. Norfolk officials are asking the state to approve 16 cameras.