Red light cameras shutting off in Jacksonville, “comprehensive traffic enforcement plan” launching

Jacksonville, FL — Red light cameras in Jacksonville officially shut off this weekend, but the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is already working on a “comprehensive traffic enforcement plan” to try to make your drive safer.

The first red light cameras in Jacksonville turned on in early 2013. WOKV first told you this past August that Sheriff Mike Williams said he would not be renewing the current contract when it ends at midnight December 31st.

"We know through data now that we don't reduce crashes with red light cameras, we know that. And we've got enough of a snapshot of data to say that's not happening," Williams said in August.

With the end of the contract now imminent, WOKV asked JSO whether they were at all anticipating an increase in crashes when the cameras shut off, and whether they are changing their patrols or traffic enforcement efforts to provide for a transition at the intersections involved.

JSO wouldn’t give many specifics and declined an interview, but told WOKV in a statement that patrols will be active where needed.

“We will continue strategic traffic deployments, including high frequency crash corridors. And we have deployments based on citizen complaints,” says the statement from JSO.

Red light cameras largely targeted these high frequency crash corridors, with the Sheriff who installed them- now-Congressman John Rutherford- saying that the aim of the program was to reduce crashes, and was not tied to revenue. In August, Williams pointed out that he inherited the program, and only kept it going as long as he did with the hope they would be able to add more technology to lead to a more effective end result- reducing crashes.

JSO and the Florida Department of Transportation have previously tested crash avoidance technology, with the intent that it would have worked with red light cameras, enhancing the overall results. In August, Williams said the technology wasn't there, which was another reason he did not want to keep the red light camera program going. JSO says there are no imminent plans to install any new traffic control devices, but they are planning to launch a "comprehensive traffic enforcement plan" next year.

“We are always looking at strategies that are best practices and can lower our high traffic fatality rate,” JSO says.

Once the cameras go dark at midnight on December 31st, it will be up to the vendor- Redflex- to remove them, since they covered the cost of the initial installation as well. JSO has not given Redflex any expectation for when the cameras be removed, nor do they have any timeline on when they expect that to be complete.

While the cameras are turning off, you can still expect to get a Notice of Violation for any infraction committed ahead of the deadline. JSO wasn't sure what the lag time could possibly be for getting those final violations sent to the people involved. Although Williams made the decision to turn the cameras off months ago, they have continued to issue Violations pending the end of the contract, and those Violations still legally stand. You are able to challenge the Violation if you don't believe you ran the light.

Red light camera violations had to be reviewed by a sworn officer before they could formally be issued. JSO says personnel involved in that are being reassigned based on need in other areas.