More red light cameras to be installed in Houston

(9/22/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Not long after Houston's red light cameras went online, more are being installed.

According to Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt, 10 more intersections are being set up with cameras to automatically catch drivers who run red lights.

On Wednesday crews started installing cameras at the following 10 new locations:

• FM 1960 at Tomball Parkway
• Southwest Freeway Feeder Rd at Fountainview
• Bissonnet at West Sam Houston Parkway South
• Southwest Freeway Feeder Rd at Chimney Rock
• Southwest Freeway Feeder Rd at Westpark
• East Freeway Feeder Rd at Uvalde
• Southwest Freeway Feeder Rd at Hillcroft
• West Sam Houston Parkway Feeder at Beechnut
• Gessner at Beechnut
• West Loop at Westheimer

Cameras began operating at the following intersections on September 1:

• Richmond at Dunvale
• Hillcroft at Richmond
• Harwin at Hillcroft
• Bellaire at Wilcrest
• Travis at Webster
• Brazos at Elgin
• Pease at La Branch
• Milam at Elgin
• JFK at Greens
• Bay Area Boulevard at El Camino Real

As of September 15, the current red light cameras captured 1,040 red light violations. Of those, 695 were approved and sent out to car owners as tickets. The other 33% were either making red turns or the department was uncertain of the identity of the license plate.

The tickets issued by red light cameras are a civil offense and carry a $75 fine. Money generated by the citations will help pay for Houston police overtime. It's not yet clear when the new cameras will be operational.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, red light running is the leading cause of urban crashes. In 2004, more than 900 people were killed in crashes that involved red light running. Fifty-six percent, a majority of Americans, admit to running red lights. One in three Americans know someone who has been injured or killed in a crash at a red light.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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