A plan to put red light cameras in the city of Charlottesville has been put to a stop. More than a year ago, the city was readying itself for a trio of cameras, but now, city councilors say it's not the right option.
In November 2010, a city spokesperson said the short list for red light cameras included some of Charlottesville's most dangerous intersections. The intersection of Hydraulic Road and Emmet Street (Route 29) is one of the busiest for the city. Also discussed were the intersections of Emmet and Barracks Road and the intersection of Preston Avenue with Ridge/McIntire Road.
Charlottesville City Council Member Dede Smith says low city speed limits and different types of intersections are why the cameras will not make an appearance. "It was determined that it wasn't...that we really don't have a comparable intersection like Rio," she said.
The red light camera system at the intersection of Route 29 and Rio Road has been a cash cow for Albemarle County, with almost 10,000 tickets handed out since the program started in December of 2010.
The county gets $316,000 after monthly rental fees are removed. The year before the camera was installed, officers only wrote 16 tickets. However, Charlottesville councilors remain uneasy about the idea.
