A public forum was held at City Hall in Rochester Monday evening to address the red light camera program.
Many who are for keeping the program are open to modifying the system, but many who are against it, want it gone all together.
Ricardo Adams is in the second group. He said he’s received multiple red light tickets that he believes are for stopping at red lights over the white line, or making right turns on red lights. He said the cost adds up.
"We can’t afford that, my wife has 2 jobs and I have a job and a half, that’s the only reason I could afford it or I would have had a boot on my car."
Critics of the program, including Joseph Butler, say the cameras are in neighborhoods with higher rates of poverty.
"They should be in Hilton, Henrietta, they should be in Greece. You shouldn’t just have them here in Rochester where some of the poorest people in Rochester are, they should be everywhere."
Butler said he received a ticket even though he came to a full stop at a red light, but he just slightly over the white line.
Ed DeTamble did not know about the issue with the cameras ticketing people for stopping over the white line. But he is still for keeping the program around and open to modifying it.
"You could give people warnings the first time and even the second time. You don’t have to charge $50. I think a lot of times people just aren’t aware of it and I think if they are, they’ll do better."
Many supporters of the program who spoke out at the forum agreed that there were flaws in the current system, and suggested longer yellow lights, smaller fines, and the option to take a driving course in lieu of payment.
Scott MacRae is a surgeon at Strong Hospital, and a former ER Doctor. He wants the cameras to stay because his biggest concern is reducing crash related injuries, which he believes the cameras do well. He also said the cost of a crash results in much more than that of a red light ticket.
"There’s a tremendous amount of cost that occurs as a result of insurance, the health payments for your injuries, as well as all the trauma for both the people that are injured and the families that have to deal with that."
MacRae is also the president of the Rochester Cycling Alliance.
"I think the red light program really helps both cyclists and pedestrians. It slows people going through conflict points which are basically intersections."
City Council plans to vote Tuesday night on whether or not to keep the cameras, but you can still voice your concerns before the vote at a "Speak to Council" Meeting that starts at 6:30 p.m. before the regular meeting at City Hall.
