132 D.C. cameras start ticketing Saturday

WASHINGTON – After a delayed roll out, D.C. police will begin issuing tickets through 132 new traffic cameras starting Saturday.

The new cameras monitor several additional infractions including running a stop sign, not giving pedestrian’s the right of way, blocking an intersection or speeding through an intersection and having an oversized vehicle on a restricted street. They will also generate tickets for running red lights and speeding.

The cameras are part of the Metropolitan Police Department’s StreetSafe initiative to better respond to the safety concerns of D.C. residents. The tickets will range from $50 to $300. See the breakdown on the StreetSafe website.

Below is a breakdown of how many cameras will be deployed to track each offense and the fines associated with those infractions.

  • 16 new cameras will ticket cars that enter crosswalks used by walkers and cyclists ($250 fine).
  • 32 aim to catch drivers rolling past stop signs ($150 fine).
  • 20 will target cars that “block the box” ($50 fine).
  • 8 are in neighborhoods to detect oversize vehicles prohibited on smaller roadways ($150 for big trucks and overweight vehicles get $250 or more).
  • 24 new speed cameras (up to $300).
  • 32 mobile units that can be moved to and from various locations.

When nearly twice as many people as usual were killed by cars on D.C. streets in 2013, the police department defended the use of traffic control cameras as a safety measure.

“Automated enforcement saves lives,” D.C. police spokeswoman Gwen Crump said to D.C. Crime Stories.

For more information about D.C.’s speed and red-light camera laws compared with other states, visit the Governor’s Highway Safety Association website.

WTOP’s Ari Ashe and Kristi King contributed to this report.

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