Tougher fines for running Bal Harbour red-light cameras

Bal Harbour is bringing its red-light camera program in step with state laws, meaning tougher fines for motorists zooming through intersections.


BY RODOLFO ROMAN
Special to The Miami Herald
Red-light runners zooming through intersections will face steeper fines now that Bal Harbour has brought its fees in line with a new state law.

The village council unanimously approved an ordinance on second reading June 30 to amend its red-light program following a state law passed this legislative session.

Cameras have been installed on Harbour Way and Collins Avenue and 96th Street and Harding Avenue, and will soon be installed in front of the Bal Harbour Shops at 97th Street andCollins Avenue, said Bal Harbour Police Capt. Mike Daddario.

Many municipalities such as Bal Harbour had enacted their own red-light policies.

The new Florida law sets statewide standards for monitoring devices and mandates that cities must give thestate a cut of the fees collected.

Violations have increased from $125 for first-time offenders to $158. The new fee took effect July 1.

Under the new law, the camera company that operates the devices -- in this case Advanced Traffic Solutions -- will get a flat fee each month.

The village gets $75 per citation, with the remaining amount going to the state.

Bal Harbour has issued 4,563 violations since a three month grace period ended in January, Daddario said.

So far, the violations have brought in $332,000, with 60 percent of that money retained by the village.

Daddario said the camera system, which captures a picture of the vehicles' license tag and then passes that information to the police department, will continue to be lucrative for the village.

``Revenue could be in the vicinity of $500,000 to one million per year. A very rough guess,'' he said.

For information on the

red-light cameras, go to www.balharbourpolice.org.