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Email Story to a Friend December 5, 2005 Random camera flashes are only tests Traffic-enforcement system in Medford is periodically checked By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune So you’ve come to a complete stop at the intersection of Biddle and McAndrews roads, when a bright flash catches you off-guard. What’s the random light show? The seemingly aimless flashes coming from red-light photo-enforcement cameras at the intersection of Biddle and McAndrews and Barnett Road and Stewart Avenue are tests to determine how well the cameras are working at any given moment, said Medford police officer Greg Nichols. Workers from Redflex Traffic Systems — vendor of the photo-enforcement equipment for Medford in 2004 after the previous camera company went bankrupt — download the images from a secure Web site taken by the cameras at their headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. They check the pictures for clarity and to see if the cameras are set at the proper angle to catch red light runners’ license plates, Nichols said. "We want to make sure the system is working properly," said Nichols, program manager for Medford police’s photo-enforcement division. "We don’t intend to alarm the public and make them lose faith in the system." Advertisement The cameras snatch 12 seconds of video showing drivers speeding through red lights. Redflex workers comb through a day’s worth of images and send the clips showing likely red-light runners to Nichols. He then determines whether to print four still photos from the video to mail to the offending driver along with a ticket. Problem drivers can expect a ticket through the mail about 10 days after they are photographed, Nichols said. Since the video clips are shown in court if a driver chooses to fight a ticket, Nichols is very selective in the ones he chooses to drop in the mailbox. "If we’re not happy with the picture’s quality, we reject them," he said. "If I don’t feel it can hold up in court, I’ll reject it." Only between five and six cited drivers fight a photo-enforcement ticket in court every month. Nichols said a number of people have changed their plea once they saw the video. These people could have saved themselves some trouble by contacting the department to schedule a viewing of their video at the station. Viewing hours are between 7 and 11 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. "We get all the same excuses for the photo-enforcement that we do when an officer stops them in the street," he said. "They say the sun was in their eyes, and things like that." Since the intersection at Biddle and McAndrews roads is in a construction zone, the fine for running a red light jumps from the standard $237 citation to $349, Nichols said. So far this year, 1,300 citations have been issued at both intersections. The cameras have generated around $15,000 in revenue since July 1, the beginning of the city’s fiscal year. In addition to the red-light cameras, the photo-enforcement division has two speed vans which have issued more than 3,000 tickets so far in 2005. They’ve generated $54,000 in revenue since July 1, according to court records. Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4459, or e-mail Random camera flashes are only tests ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s