New Red Light Cameras on Hold Indefinitely

Plans to add new red light cameras at dangerous Arlington intersections are on hold indefinitely as officials continue to gather information and determine the actual intersections that will be monitored.

Arlington County already has four such cameras, installed in 2010. Motorists who get caught running a red light have to pay a $50 fine.

Since March 2012, various news outlets have reported six, seven or eight new cameras are coming to Arlington. A planned deployment earlier this year was put off until the fall, ARLnow reported in June. But fall has arrived and no new cameras have been installed.

"They've hit some unexpected delays," Arlington police Lt. Mike Watson told Patch. Watson said he believed the number of new cameras was eight, but that number wasn't firm. He also said the locations under considerations for the cameras have not been finalized.

Police will issue a news release 30 days before the new cameras are deployed in order to let everyone know which intersections will get them, Watson said.

Once they are active, drivers will be allowed a 30-day grace period where only warning tickets will be issued at the newly monitored intersections.

The county considers the number of crashes at an intersection, the number of red light violations and the ability of officers to stop violators at an intersection when determining where cameras will be deployed.

Plans for new cameras can change, in part, due to the infrastructure at a specific location. Once target intersections have been pinpointed, they must be analyzed to determine if a camera can be installed without running any new wires.

"There's very specific requirements for each location," Watson said.

Arlington County is authorized by the state to install up to 20 red light cameras.

The existing cameras are at the following intersections:

• North Lynn Street at Lee Highway
• Fort Myer Drive at Lee Highway
• Washington Boulevard at Lee Highway
• North Glebe Road at North Fairfax Drive