Lakeland officials are in favor of extending the city’s red-light camera program and adding automated license plate readers to the street poles.
Sgt. Chad Mumbauer of the Lakeland Police Department gave a presentation on the city’s red-light camera system to the city commissioners at their Friday agenda study.
The city’s contract with Verra Mobility, previously American Traffic Solutions, is slated to expire in January 2024.
“We want the contract renewed,” Mumbauer said. “We’d like to relocate the camera with the help of traffic operations to the best location that’s a safe fit.”
The city first deployed nine red-light running cameras at five intersections in June 2009. The program was expanded to 18 cameras at 11 intersections in August 2013. That number has held steady over the past decade.
Each infraction of red-light running caught on camera at a speed at or above 15 mph is reviewed by a police officer, Mumbauer said. Out of the more than 56,000 cases last year, roughly 45% of drivers were issued a ticket.
For each $158 red-light ticket issued, the city receives $75, Financial Director Mike Brossart said.
Commissioners gave an informal “thumbs up” vote to relocating the cameras and adding cameras at one additional intersection. Mumbauer will finish negotiating a new contract between the city and Verra Mobility to bring back to the commission for their formal approval.
LPD Assistant Chief Hans Lehman said the department is looking to add automated license plate readers as part of the contract. Lehman argued it would provide LPD with another investigative tool.
Who’s getting ticketed?
- 56,017 cases were reviewed as potential red-light runners by Lakeland police.
- 25,689 notices of violations were mailed out.
- 30,328 potential cases were rejected.
- 7,960 uniform traffic citations issued for failure to respond to red-light camera notices.
- 1,910 hours of staff time.