Providence drivers could soon see more cameras at traffic lights. The city council gave first passage to an ordinance Monday to install 20 new so-called “red light” cameras. The cameras snap photos of cars running red lights, so a ticket can be mailed to the driver.
The decision faces criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island which says there’s no data backing up the effectiveness of these cameras. The ACLU has also raised questions about whether the ordinance, which allows four weeks to pass before a ticket is sent, takes too long to allow for due process.
“When you get a summons a month later rather than a just couple weeks after, it’s going to be very difficult for the driver to either remember why this happened, to be able to provide a better recollection of the event,” said Marcela Betancur, a policy associate for the ACLU.
But Providence officials say the extra time is necessary to review the tickets, and to make sure no one is unnecessarily charged. According to Lee Perrotta, parking administrator for the city of Providence, the increase in cameras will help mitigate traffic violations.
“Accidents go down,” said Perrotta. “Speeding goes down. And how we know this is from the data from the revenue that the city receives, it falls off significantly, so we know that people do change their behavior for the good.”
There are already 25 red light cameras placed across the city. At least ten new cameras are expected to be installed by the end of the year.
Editor’s note: a previous version of this article implied that the proposal was finalized. The proposal has received first passage in the City Council. However, in Providence, proposals need two approvals by the council. As of this article, the council has not yet voted on the proposal a second time.
