ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- For some drivers the only trouble that can come of running a red light is if he or she is spotted by a police officer; but cameras will soon be catching red-light runners in the act.
The cameras will be mounted at busy intersections in Orange Park, and what they record will be sent to offenders along with a ticket for about $125.
Orange Park resident Jonnie Dominion said he sees people running red lights every day. He said it even happens at some of the town's major intersections like Wells Road and U.S. 17.
Dominion admitted that traffic gets so heavy at times and it can take so long to get though a light that he has caught himself running a few.
"I'm not even being in a hurry. I mean, it turns yellow for like a second," Dominion said.
In a few months such behavior might be caught on camera. Last week, the city council approved installing cameras at three busy and dangerous intersections.
"The cameras are going to be there full time and they're going to make sure that they can not get away with a running red light," said Orange Park Town Manager John Bowles.
Bowles said he couldn't wait to put the cameras up because he has seen too many crashes from people running stoplights.
"My office is right here on the corner, and not a day goes by that I don't see a close call or an actual accident here at this particular location," Bowles said.
The cameras will be mounted at U.S. 17, also known as Park Avenue, and Kingsley Avenue, U.S. 17 and Wells Road, and at Kingsley and Doctors Lake Drive.
Inside the Orange Park Police Station, officers already watch for traffic and accidents with mounted cameras. They said hopefully once the new red light cameras are up people will hit the brakes.
"Hopefully the word will get out that we do have cameras and people will slow down and realize that if they're in a hurry and decide to run a red light, they could get a citation," said Police Chief James Boivin.
Orange Park has a contract with the company that will handle the billing for the citation and the company will install the camera for a portion of the fees from the traffic fines.
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