JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – From now on, drivers who you run a red light at two intersections on the Southside will trigger a ticket in the mail.
The grace period for red light cameras ended Friday for the southbound approach on Southside Boulevard at Touchton Road and the east and west approaches of Baymeadows Road at Southside Boulevard, known as one of the busiest intersections in Jacksonville.
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The grace period will end at other intersections in the upcoming weeks and months. In all, there will be 25 cameras that will be used to catch red light runners at 18 intersections in the River City.
During the 30-day grace period at the two intersections, more than 475 drivers were caught on camera running the red. Some think the cameras will make drivers obey the law.
"I think it's a good thing because there have been too many accidents," driver Deborah Metzig said. "I don't think they should be running red lights."
Others say they wish the cameras were never installed.
"I think they're a scam," driver Matt Meadows said. "They set up at lights that are short on purpose, and I think they are looking for money."
The owner of the car, no matter who is driving, will be responsible for paying the $158 ticket. If the fine goes unpaid for 30 days or more, it becomes a citation, or an official ticket with a $274 fine and points on the driver's license. The fines can be fought in court.
Sheriff John Rutherford is hoping to see drivers change their behavior on the road.
"We're certainly going to be looking for that, and we'll be tracking, doing a full analysis of that, probably 30, 60, 90 days out," Rutherford said.