The seemingly never-ending saga of New Jersey's controversial red light camera program is expected to continue today. State Senator Shirley Turner plans to introduce a bill that she says will put an end to questions about turning right on red at an intersection equipped with a red light camera.

Red Light Camera
Flickr User Neal Jennings
loading...

"It prohibits right turns on red signals at intersections with red light cameras," explains Turner. "It requires that proper signage be posted near the traffic lights indicating that such turns are prohibited."

The legislation also requires that signs are posted to warn drivers that fines would be doubled if they turn right on red at an intersection with a camera in a 'safe corridor' zone.

Turner strongly believes that far fewer drivers would turn right on red if they knew for sure that they would be breaking the law and if they don't turn red, they can avoid paying the hefty fine that towns seem all-too-willing to collect. She calls her measure, "A drivers' wallet protection bill."

Some critics of the legislation claim the signs would cost too much for cash-strapped towns. Turner isn't worried about that. She explains, "I don't know what the signage would cost, but I'm sure with the fines that they're collecting it's more than enough to pay for that signage."

Opponents also claim that already crowded intersections will be even more jam-packed causing massive traffic tie-ups. Turner responds, "I think we'd rather have traffic back-ups than accidents. I think safety is paramount and a red light camera that's already at an intersection is supposed to mean that the intersection is dangerous."

Turner has been a vocal opponent of the red light camera program since its inception in New Jersey.

 

More From 92.7 WOBM