Posted: Friday, May 15, 2009 8:01 pm

WARNINGS START TODAY — Motorists traveled down Reelfoot Avenue in Union City this morning, the first day for red-light cameras to be activated in the city. Union City council members authorized the installation of three red-light cameras in the city to try to deter people from running the red lights and causing accidents. Traffipax installed the cameras at Reelfoot Avenue and South First Street, West Reelfoot Avenue and Everett Boulevard and Everett Boulevard and West Main Street. Warning tickets will be issued for 30 days and citations will be issued beginning June 15. An infraction is recorded only if the vehicle’s front wheels are behind the stop bar at a red light and then cross the stop bar while the light is still red. The tapes are reviewed by Traffipax personnel and pictures of infractions are then sent to the police department. There, they are reviewed by a trained officer. If an infraction is confirmed, a citation will be sent to the owner of the vehicle, as per the license plate. The front of the citation shows the three photographs, the date, time and location of the violation, as well as an explanation of the owner’s options — to pay it within 30 days or to contest the citation. The camera-generated citation has a fine of $50 and is a civil action that does not involve the Department of Motor Vehicles. Therefore, no points are incurred on a driver’s license, according to Union City Assistant Police Chief Perry Barfield. For a complete explanation of the red-light cameras, see The Messenger’s front page story on May 12 or visit The Messenger’s front page stories at www.nwtntoday.com.
Published in The Messenger 5.15.09