ORANGE PARK, Fla. — For the last decade, the Town of Orange Park has used red-light cameras to take videos and pictures of drivers who run red lights. Tonight, a public meeting is scheduled to discuss those cameras.
Town of Orange Park Police Department Chief Gary Goble says the town recently signed a new two-year contract with Verra Mobility. According to Chief Goble, that is the company that operates areas of cameras.
Action News Jax learned that the Town of Orange Park and Green Cove Springs appear to be the only municipality in Northeast Florida with these cameras. Green Cove Springs has 5 red-light cameras according to Chief Goble.
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Action News Jax reached out to all 7 counties in Northeast Florida that Action News Jax covers and 4 of them said that they do not have red light cameras. Clay County spokeswoman says Clay County is not in charge of red-light cameras. This is due to the fact that there are a number of other jurisdictions that Clay County cannot speak on behalf of.
They came after Florida ranked 3rd in the country for red-light running deaths in a 2019 report from The National Safety Council.
The town of Orange Parks Website says if you get caught running a red light you will be fined $158. However, if you pay online or over the phone there will be a convenience fee bringing your total to $175.
“I got caught on Kingsley Road and they sent me the paper with a picture on it and I had to pay $175,” said Morman.
Tonight’s meeting to discuss red-light cameras will be held at the Town of Orange Park Meeting Council Chambers. Tonight’s
hearing is for people that wish to contest their violations. It’s a meeting that happens monthly according to the clerk of the Town of Orange Park.
According to the Town of Orange Park’s website, red-light cameras were implemented a decade ago to help keep passengers, cyclists, drivers and pedestrians safe from crashes or injuries caused by drivers who run red lights.
“People are broke, we don’t have money to pay them high tickets,” said Morman.
Etta Morman works at a nearby Wendy’s and doesn’t like the red-light cameras. In her experience the roadways are safe, but the Town of Orange Park disagrees.
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The Town’s website lists Park Avenue at Loring Avenue, North and Southbound lanes, Park Avenue at Kingsley Avenue, North, South, and turning lanes and Kingsley Avenue at DeBarry, West and Eastbound lanes as the 3 most dangerous intersections where red-light running is common.
Action News Jax has yet to be able to obtain a number as to how many accidents Town of Orange Park has had as a result of red-light runners.
Baker, Putnam, St. Johns, Flagler and Clay County spokespeople say they don’t have red-light cameras. According to the City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office used to have red-light cameras in 2013. They chose to not extend their red-light cameras contract when it ended in 2017 because statistics weren’t able to prove that the cameras were helping reduce crashes.
Nassau County has yet to respond.
A Flagler spokesperson said Palm Coast used to have red-light cameras. After several phone calls I was directed to Palm Coast Public Works Manager who did not answer Action News Jax’s calls.
One spokeswoman with Putnam County said that a lot of counties in Northeast Florida do not have red-light cameras because the cameras were being implemented by third parties.
This meant whenever someone wanted to challenge a ticket for running a red light that county’s courtroom would not make any money. Due to the fact that the matter could not be handled through local law enforcement.
Action News Jax reached out to the Town of Orange Park and their Police Department for comment to see how many traffic accidents or injuries they’ve had because someone ran a red light. This is the response received from Chief Goble in an email, “If someone is observed running a red light by an officer, they could receive a Uniform Traffic Citation that is quite a bit more expensive than the Notice of Violations issued due to the camera. The UTC also carries 3 points, and the NOV does not. Crash information is compiled by the Department of Transportation, not by this agency.”
When asked if there was anything else Town of Orange Park does to ensure road safety? Chief Goble wrote, “We have an active police presence in the Town of Orange Park and we work diligently on traffic issues to include speeding, careless driving and a multitude of other traffic infractions in an attempt to ensure the safety of those that live here, work here, and travel through our Town on a daily basis.”
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