City: Red Light Cameras Will Stay Put

Red light cameras have been nailing drivers for running red lights in New Carrollton, but some say they've been catching those who aren't even moving.

AAA has claimed all along that the cameras were violating the rights of motorists. On Friday, a judge agreed with them on some of the cases, but the city says they are legit, and in spite of the court ruling, those cameras are here to stay.

A district court judge dismissed several red light camera cases in Prince George's County, clearing drivers who had been ticketed for running red lights. But that's done little to settle the dispute between AAA and the city of New Carrollton.

"This is upholding the system of justice and fair play that motorists should expect from the court system," said John Townsend of AAA Public Affairs.

"I went into the intersection before the amber light turned red, so I thought I was okay," said Walter Flemming, a New Carrollton resident.

But Flemming wasn't okay. He got hit with a $75 ticket for running the light at 450 and 85th Avenue. But, when he looked at the red light photo, he noticed a problem.

"I was sitting still the whole time while another car was making a turn," said Flemming.

Townsend says they investigated the New Carrollton red light camera and determined it was issuing tickets to drivers who were sitting still, not running through the light.

"The way the city defines red-light running is if the vehicle goes into the crosswalk, or crosses the stop line," said Townsend. "But that's not how the state government, federal government, or state statute defines the law."

On the ticket, it clearly says the violation is for running a red light and does not mention crosswalks. But New Carrollton Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Wildoner says everything is legit. Before he talked to us, he says he talked to the police chief, who had just talked to the city attorney.

"Just pay the ticket," said Wildoner. "If you're in the crosswalk, because if you look at the annotated code of Maryland, you're not allowed to park in the crosswalk."

Wildoner says they put the camera there because it is a dangerous crosswalk. So, for right now they have no plans to remove either of the two red light cameras.

"Something needs to be done about red light runners, that's true," said Flemming. "But it does make me upset at the way they are going about doing it."

AAA plans to file an injunction to stop the cameras from being used within the next week or two. Mayor Pro-Tem Wildoner says the cameras are not a cash cow. He says they barely make $30,000 a year for New Carrollton.

More than 300 communities across the country including 30 in Maryland use red light cameras.