- March 3, 2025
Like them or not, red light cameras have made Palm Coast roads safer, according to Greg Parks, of American Traffic Solutions.
“They are working here,” Parks said. “Crashes are down, violations are down and repeat violations are down. And all of this is provided at no cost to your taxpayers.”
With the changes at the state level, Parks provided an informational presentation during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, highlighting some of the frequently-asked questions on the city’s 43 red light cameras.
Out of six sample intersections with red light cameras, the number of accidents is down at four of those from 2010 to 2011, according to data provided. At both of the two intersections that increased, the increase was smal: One went up by 10, the other by just one citation.
Additional data suggest that one citation usually modifies behavior, Parks said.
About 87% of first-time offenders do not re-offend. Ten percent are issued two violations, and 3% are issued three or more violations.
With so few repeat offenders, City Councilman Jason DeLorenzo wondered if perhaps first-time offenders could be issued warnings, not citations.
“You have proven that if safety is the real point, it can be accomplished by warning, because 87% of the people don’t do it again,” he said.
State statutes require the $158 citation, Parks said, but the city does have the ability to implement greater leniency and add payment plans or reduce the hearing fees.
Where does the money go?
The $158 is broken down like this: $75 goes to the city, $70 goes to the general fund of Florida, $10 goes to the fund for trauma centers (there’s a theory that there’s a link between red light crashes and trauma), and $3 goes to the Miami project to cure paralysis.
The city receives $700 per camera per month, no matter how many violations occur. That money goes into the street improvement fund for striping, signage, guardrails, traffic signal improvements, etc.
“The point is the money the city does get is earmarked for street improvement and traffic improvement, and nothing else,” City Councilman Bill McGuire said.
Video surveillance
There are also other benefits to the cameras, Parks said. In at least 123 instances, city personnel have requested videos for other instances, such as accidents (45 video pulls), accident fatalities (two), hit-and-run investigations (19), homicide investigations (4), police investigations (48), vandalism (3) and robbery (2).
“It’s a free source of video surveillance for law enforcement,” Parks said. “Meaningful help for solving major crimes.”
On the ballot?
Some residents have urged the city to put red light cameras on the ballot for vote, but Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts said Tuesday that he has heard no discussion by the City Council to put such an item on the ballot. If 25% of the registered electorate band together for a petition, then a referendum could be placed on the ballot.
Netts also said there are no current plans to add more red light cameras within the city.
BOX: Right turn on red
The city has stated in the past that it does not issue citations for drivers who turn right on red at 14 mph or less. That policy has changed, however.
The following is a statement from City Manager Jim Landon:
"Florida traffic laws require a complete stop before turning right on a red light when it's safe to do so. The state law that governs the red light camera programs changed this year to be consistent with state traffic laws and now requires a complete stop before turning right on red.
"I have instructed our code enforcement officers who review the video from our red light camera program to be consistent with law enforcement officers who enforce the traffic laws on our streets and use their discretion when issuing citations for rolling through a red light while turning right. Consistent with the change in state law, we will no longer be stating that we will not issue a camera citation if the driver slows down below 14 mph."
