Have you gotten nabbed yet by one of New Jersey’s growing number of red-light cameras?

The note comes in the mail — a ticket, in fact, that may even be unexpected, sent to the car’s registered owner. And it’s a tough case to argue: Violators get several photos of their alleged crime and even a link to an online video that shows the police department’s typically irrefutable evidence.

The cameras are part of a five-year pilot program. It’s been a boon to the municipalities that already have cameras up and running. Other towns have been more reluctant to participate amid concerns the cameras may cause some accidents, and a public outcry from residents and drivers’ advocates who argue the equipment simply isn’t fair.

But the state Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the information-gathering effort, has a mandate to have two dozen municipalities — twice the current number — with working cameras when the pilot ends in January 2013. Now, department officials said, they’re getting more aggressive in finding towns that are serious about the initiative.

"We want to make sure we have at least 24 actively participating municipalities," said Tim Greeley, a DOT spokesman.

Red-light cameras are currently operating in Brick, Deptford, East Brunswick, Glassboro, Gloucester Township, Jersey City, Linden, Newark, New Brunswick, Stratford, Wayne and Woodbridge. During the past few months, the DOT has been pressuring local governments that have intersections approved for cameras but haven’t taken any significant steps toward installing them.

Hoboken, Stafford and Mountainside have abandoned the cameras entirely, the state said.

"Whether change in administration or change in policy, the three towns that have withdrawn from the program told us in no uncertain terms they’re not going to go through with this," Greeley said.

In other places, it just took a while to convince local officials to finally go ahead with cameras.

That’s been the case in South Brunswick, which was approved for a camera at the intersection of Route 1 and Henderson Road in March 2009. Police Sgt. James Ryan, the department’s spokesman, said the township is submitting paperwork to change the location to Routes 1 and 522, which is a more dangerous intersection.

"The (township) council had some reservations about the program," Ryan said. "So, they wanted to see some data and the applications across the state."

In Roselle Park, which was approved for a camera in December 2008, the borough is just preparing to turn on its system starting May 1. Municipal officials have been in talks for two years with American Traffic Solutions, the company that installed and will operate the camera, said police Chief Paul Morrison. The company needed to be sure the intersection — Route 28 and Locust Street — would have enough violations.

Despite that, Morrison and Mayor Joseph Accardi say the town’s only goal is increasing safety.

"Our goal is really to reduce the people who run the red lights. If we do that, hopefully we can reduce the number of crashes," the mayor said. "It’s not really about the revenues for us."

But some studies have suggested red-light cameras don’t reduce the number of crashes, and opponents say there are other issues to consider, such as fairness. Steve Carellas, the New Jersey representative of the National Motorists Association, has lobbied against the cameras.

Carellas said lots of drivers getting tickets are almost completely through the intersection when the light turns red.

"You just don’t get most people running these red lights beyond a second," he said. "If people are doing that, I’d rather a cop stop them, give them a higher fine and give them points."

Related coverage:

• Hanover mayor looking for council approval to install red-light camera at busy intersection

• Newark red light cameras reduce traffic violations, bring in $3M in revenue

• Proposed Lambertville cameras to catch drivers who run red lights cause many concerns

• Linden nets $800,000 from first 3 months using red light cameras

• Morristown moving ahead with red-light cameras plan

• Brick Township plans to start issuing fines based on red light camera

• Sayreville eyes cameras to slow speeders