25 red light cameras to be removed from Raleigh intersections

After 20 years in Raleigh, the city's traffic light cameras used to catch drivers who run red lights will be removed.

On April 8, the city of Raleigh's agreement will end with Conduent State & Local Solutions, Inc., which operates the cameras, and the city does not plan to renew the contract.

Crews have already begun removing cameras at 25 intersections across the city, including the intersection of Dawson and Morgan streets, where all that remains of the camera is a metal pole.

WRAL News visited several Raleigh intersections on Wednesday and noticed other red light cameras have been removed.

Raleigh's first red light cameras were installed as part of a Safelight program in 2003, and 25 have been installed at intersections since.

A memo from the city suggests the cameras require too much regulation for the cost and safety benefit.

A city of Raleigh memo reads: "City staff is not recommending renewal of this service. Both internal and external influences factor into this recommendation. Although Raleigh’s red light camera (RLC) program has historically been successful at improving safety, much has changed since the program began 20 years ago."

A new message posted on the Safelight website indicates Raleigh is no longer accepting payments for outstanding citations, and all unpaid citations for people who run red lights are being tossed out.

The most tickets Raleigh's Safelight program gave out in a year is 30,000. According to the city, the number of tickets issued and paid has dropped off in recent years.

One Raleigh driver who got a ticket with a photo of his car in the mail said he is glad to see the red light cameras go.

"If they’re going away, I think it’s nice that they are," said Patrick Hobgood. "It’s a little bit of a big brother situation where you’re just being monitored. I don’t really think they decrease traffic violations. I think they just make it easier to ticket people."

The memo from the city of Raleigh cites third-party litigation and operating costs as reasons why the cameras may be removed.

Many cities and towns in North Carolina, including Charlotte, Cary and Greenville, have already removed their cameras already due to lawsuits.

Steps are already underway to improve safety at intersections once the cameras are removed. Upgrades include new traffic lights and high-visibility backplates that make red lights stand out more as drivers approach an intersection.

Other upgrades include high visibility pavement markings, new signal heads, signal timing and phasing adjustments and pedestrian signals with push buttons to reduce all crash types at intersections with similar safety concerns.