New red-light cameras going up around Jacksonville

Grace period ends for 4 red-light cameras in Jacksonville; begins for 5 others

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Five new red-light cameras in Jacksonville began their warning-grace period Monday:

  • Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard westbound
  • Beach Boulevard and Kernan Boulevard, both east and westbound
  • Southside Boulevard and Hogan Road, both north and southbound


As cameras are placed, calibrated and tested, motorists may notice some white flashes. This is the testing mode. No notices are issued during the warning-grace period.

Also Monday, the grace period began for four other red-light cameras at the following locations:

  • Beach Boulevard and San Pablo Road eastbound
  • Beach Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff Road, both east and westbound
  • Gate Parkway and Southside Boulevard eastbound


If drivers are caught they will be mailed a ticket for $158.

There are now active red-light cameras at 21 intersections in Duval County, under construction at three others and permits to put up lights at five more.

ONLINE: Complete list of active red-light cameras in Jacksonville

Jenny Clark is not shy about being anti-red-light cameras. She said the flashes are distracting to drivers.

"They are very distracting because you don't know where they're coming from, and then you're looking around like who just ran the red light, and then there's an accident," Clark said.

Samuel Bell finds them the opposite of distracting.

"I don't think so, as long as they're keeping everybody safe, keeping us following the rules and guidelines," Bell said.

A study released earlier this year showed Florida's red light camera program generated more than $115 million, the amount being split almost evenly between state and local governments. Clark thinks the money belongs elsewhere.

"We could definitely use it more in school than the city, so they could find other ways to use that money," she said. "I don't think the city needs it. They have enough."