Karl Baker

The News Journal

Delaware lawmakers passed legislation early Friday morning that could put a portion of Wilmington's $4 million red-light camera revenue at risk.

The bill would require municipalities to demonstrate with crash data that their camera systems are installed at intersections where dangerous collisions occur as a result of red-light running. Red-light cameras automatically ticket drivers who pass illegally through an intersection.

At issue is Wilmington's cameras that fine drivers who turn right through a red light without coming to a complete stop. More than $1 million was collected from drivers turning right through red lights in Wilmington in the fiscal year 2015.

Policy makers and the auto club AAA have criticized the cameras, saying they are in place to generate revenue, rather than to make streets safer. The new legislation places the burden on a city to prove that a particular intersection is camera-monitored because of a history of red-light crashes.

But proving that right turn violations cause crashes could be challenging, say many observers.

Jurisdictions “can only issue right turn on red violations if there is safety and crash data to support it as determined by the (Delaware) Department of Transportation,” states the language buried in the epilogue of the committee's bond bill.

In 2015, there were four vehicle collisions at the city's 30 red-light monitored intersections caused by drivers turning right through a red light. Wilmington is the only Delaware city with cameras that ticket drivers for so-called rolling right turns.

The red-light camera language was proposed by Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover, who sits on the Capital Improvement Committee. Ten legislators in the committee voted in favor of the new rule. The two from Wilmington – Sen. Robert Marshall, D-Wilmington, and Rep. Charles Potter, D-Wilmington – opposed it.

Bonini alleges that many of Wilmington's red-light cameras are in place to make money for the city. The new legislation will require the city to use the same standards that the Delaware Department of Transportation uses for its red-light camera system. DelDOT does not ticket drivers who roll through red lights to make right turns.

"Although there are details that need to be ironed out, DelDOT will work closely with the City of Wilmington to implement the instructions of the the General Assembly," said DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan in a statement Friday.

Alexandra Coppadge, spokeswoman for Wilmington Mayor Dennis P. Williams, said Thursday that city officials still need to look at the new language.

"The city will review the specific legislation addressing red light cameras to assess the current implementation and if any changes are necessary to be compliant," Coppadge said.

Marshall said he voted against the addition of the red-light camera legislation because the city of Wilmington didn’t have an opportunity to comment.

“It was inappropriate as Wilmington legislators to vote for it,” Marshall said.

STORY: Dangerous crashes at red light cameras down

STORY: Want to fight that red light ticket? Good luck

POLL: Do you think Wilmington's red light cameras are for revenue or safety?



In the fiscal year 2015, Wilmington’s camera system distributed 12,868 tickets to drivers who rolled through a red light on their way to making a right turn, more than one-third of all red light camera tickets issued, fining drivers roughly $1.35 million

The program collected $3.9 million in total revenue in the fiscal year 2015, and $4.5 million in 2014. Roughly 46 percent of that money was distributed to Xerox Corp in those years, the company that operates the system. The city earned $1.9 million in 2015, and $2.6 million in 2014.

AAA spokesman Jim Lardear said it is doubtful that Wilmington will be able to demonstrate its right-turn citations make roads safer, as the new rules would require.

"Given the small number of crashes, there is no demonstrated problem," Lardear said.

Contact Karl Baker at kbaker@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2329. Follow him on Twitter @kbaker6.

Wilmington’s red-light camera intersections