WASHINGTON -
$85 million. That is how much money D.C. generated from speed and red light cameras in fiscal year 2012.
The No. 1 revenue generator is the camera on 295 South near Blue Plains. It pulled in $9 million last fiscal year.
No. 2 is also on 295 near Blue Plains, but northbound.
No. 3 is in the 600 block of New York Avenue, NE.
No. 4 is again on 295 - this time under the Benning Road bridge.
Finally, No. 5 is in the 1900 block of Branch Avenue in Southeast D.C.
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Top Ten Speed Cameras By Location, Ticketing And Revenue
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YTD 2012
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Location
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Tickets Issued
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Revenue
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1
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DC 295 SW .7 miles s/o Exit 1 S/B
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92,441
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$9,207,186
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2
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DC 295 SW .3 miles s/o Exit 1 n/b
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68,958
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$6,645,969
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3
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600 blk New York Avenue NE w/b
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56,493
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$5,407,835
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4
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DC 295 NE under Benning Rd n/b
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46,182
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$4,933,136
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5
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1900 blk Branch Ave SE n/b
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40,383
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$3,529,735
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6
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DC 295 NE at Benning Rd Exit n/b
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35,577
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$3,006,614
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7
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600 blk Missouri Avenue NW nw/b
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31,670
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$3,205,789
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8
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3200 blk of Porter St NW e/b
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18,553
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$1,973,679
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9
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7700 blk 16th Street NW n/b
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17,213
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$1,845,250
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10
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1900 blk Independence Ave SE e/b
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16,313
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$1,840,352
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TOTAL
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423,783
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$41,595,544
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One longtime D.C. resident tells FOX 5: "They overdid it. Every place you go, every street, every neighborhood you go into almost."
AAA Mid-Atlantic's John Townsend calls it "rampant ticketing." He says D.C.'s figures rival the number of tickets handed out in the entire state of Virginia.
"So you're telling us that when people come to the District, it becomes the Wild West," says Townsend. "It becomes Dodge City and they lose their bearings, their minds, their manners, drive like bats out of hell. I don't think so."
Some residents say it is all about making money.
"Something is rotten in the District of Columbia and the stench is coming from millions and millions of dollars in ticket revenue," says Townsend.
But D.C. Police say traffic fatalities have been cut in half since speed cameras were installed in 2001.
The best advice? Slow down.
Maybe you're wondering where all that money goes? Well, the city says they don't trace specifically how speed camera revenues are spent, but they say all of the money goes into the general fund.
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Red-Light Camera Tickets: Top Five Sites
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YTD 2012
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Location
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Tickets Issued
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1
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New York w/b at 4th Street NW
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5,297
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2
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S Capitol Ramp S/Bound Before I Street SW
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4,884
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3
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New York w/b at Florida NE
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4,849
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4
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Suitland PKWY w/b at Stanton Rd SE
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4,679
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5
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New York Ave w/b at New Jersey NW
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4,135
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TOTAL TICKETS ISSUED AT SITES ABOVE
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23,844
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