AAA Statement on Red Light Camera Suspension

In a statement, AAA commended the New Jersey Department of Transportation decision to suspend the red light camera program pending an investigation in 21 municipalities where those cameras may have been operating in violation of New Jersey state law.

Springfield was . 

According to NJDOT, state law requires duration of the amber light in a traffic signal that differs from the federal standard formula that NJDOT and New Jersey municipalities are required by law to use in operating traffic signals.

AAA said the motorist advocacy organization is concerned that red light cameras at intersections with overly short amber lights may have been in operation for years and generating millions of dollars in revenue without proper adherence to state law. Upon completion of the investigation, AAA calls for any municipality violating the law to fully refund any fines previously paid by motorists.

Springfield's cameras had only been operation for a very short time following a . It is unlikely that it accrued serious fines while in operation.

In their statement on the red light cameras, AAA said that while it believesred light cameras can be beneficial in reducing crashes at intersections, this issue underscores our long-held position that such programs must be focused solely on safety and not on revenue.

In a recent survey of New Jersey motorists taken before the NJDOT action, the favorable rating of red light camera programs was the lowest it has been since the question was first asked in 2005.  However, while support has steadily diminished, a majority of those surveyed, 61% believed that the cameras can help ensure that New Jersey roads are safer with 35% believing that the main purpose of the program is to generate revenue for municipalities rather than traffic safety.