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Slowing the speeders Medford tests new cameras to catch speeders and red-light violators By MELISSA MARTIN Mail Tribune If you're tempted to speed through a school zone or run a red light, think again. The city of Medford is testing new red-light cameras installed at Biddle and McAndrews roads and Riverside Avenue and Barnett Road. And Medford police are also practicing with a new van that parks on the side of the road and snaps photos of speeders. If you're caught, you will receive in the mail a letter with your photo, your cruising speed and a fine of up to $175. During recent testing, the red-light cameras didn't catch too many violators. But the speeding van snapped shots of 259 drivers going 11 mph or more over the speed limit in three test areas. But police won't issue citations until they finish educating the public, said Medford Deputy Police Chief Ron Norris. Medford launched a $200,000 photo enforcement project last month by installing the cameras and posting warning signs at the two intersections and at city entrances. Drivers will also get a visible warning when the photo radar van is in use - the uniformed police officer who operates it will place "sandwich" boards 100 feet in front and behind the van. Norris and Jack Weaver, a manager for the Australian-based Poltech International Limited, explained the new system and answered questions during a Medford City Council meeting Thursday. Council members wanted to know how far into the intersection cars must travel before the driver's picture is snapped for running a red light. Weaver explained there are three sensor strips in the roadway. The wheels must cross the third strip - approximately where the crosswalk begins - after the light has turned red in order for there to be a violation. The camera snaps three photos, one with a wide-angle lens showing the rear license plate and two with a telephoto lens showing the front license plate and the driver's face. "The camera also takes an environmental shot every time the light turns red," he said. In Oregon, it's illegal to enter an intersection on a yellow light unless you can't stop safely, Norris said. Council members also asked if a driver could get a ticket from the photo van for barely exceeding the speed limit. "There will be reasonable tolerance for the public - I don't think you'll see violations for 1 mile over the speed limit," Norris said. "We take into consideration things like drivers that changed their tires and the odometer might be off a little." Oregon law restricts the photo van's use to residential streets or school zones unless the City Council passes an ordinance allowing its use elsewhere, Norris said. Police hope to convince the council to do just that. They've been experimenting with the van camera, parking it for seven hours at three locations: Crater Lake Highway, Central Avenue and McAndrews Road. They photo-graphed 259 drivers exceeding the speed limit by 11 mph or more, he said. No citations for speeding or running red lights will be issued until the city finishes its education campaign. Even in its testing stage, the system seems to be working, Norris said. At Biddle and McAndrews, where 25 to 50 drivers were running red lights daily, Norris tracked only two and about four at Barnett and Riverside, he told the council. "I watched a car skid to a stop in front of me just so they wouldn't enter the intersection,'' he said. Red-light cameras will operate night and day but the van camera will operate during daylight hours only, Norris said. Medford police are watching the city of Beaverton's experiment with flash photography to catch night-time speeders. If Beaverton finds success, Medford may follow suit, Norris said. Reach reporter Melissa Martin at 776-4497, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.