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From the Blade story :

The city now uses 26 red-light cameras at 18 intersections. Seven cameras detect speeders.

Larger map

Toledo’s photo camera locations

• East and west on Hill at Byrne
• East and west on Alexis at Lewis
• West on Alexis at North Detroit
• East on Airport and north on Reynolds
• North on Front and east on Main
• East and west on Dorr at Secor
• East on Monroe and north on Secor
• North on Secor at Laskey
• North on Reynolds at Heatherdowns
• East on South and north on Anthony Wayne Trail
• South on Summit and east on Cherry
• West on Alexis at Jackman
• South on Anthony Wayne Trail at Western
• South on Talmadge at Sylvania
• North on Douglas at University Hills
• West on Laskey at Douglas
• West on Heatherdowns at Cass
• West on Laskey at Lewis

Toledo’s fixed-speed camera locations

• Westbound on Alexis at Jackman
• Southbound on Anthony Wayne Trail at Western
• Northbound on Anthony Wayne Trail at South
• Southbound on Talmadge at Sylvania
• Northbound on Reynolds at Heatherdowns
• Eastbound on Main at Front
• Northbound on Douglas at University Hills

Source: Toledo police

posted by jr on Feb 06, 2008 at 11:04:50 am     #

Are these detectors detecting people who are not speeding or are not running lights?

posted by billy on Feb 06, 2008 at 11:30:56 am     #

That 'resource' is in the works. Stay tuned.

posted by elmahico on Feb 06, 2008 at 11:38:36 am     #

If they wanted safety, all city streets would be 20 and bumpers would be rated at 60 mphs. I'm thinking of getting my forklift street legal.

We all know it's lead foots and light brakers that are causing all the cities problems.

I applaud them.

posted by charlatan on Feb 06, 2008 at 01:09:28 pm     #

Too bad I can't get enough momentum going in my Geo to actually speed, barring a downhill slope of more than 4 miles. Eh, charlatan?

posted by JJFad on Feb 06, 2008 at 02:28:15 pm     #

I'm painting my car with black spray paint and covering the plate with mud.

posted by tommy1 on Feb 06, 2008 at 04:43:20 pm     #

As to the question that started this thread: "Safety or Money grab?," I think a Toledo City Councilman provides the answer as reported in the Blade :

"No one likes to raise fees but, quite frankly, we are trying to balance the budget," Mr. Sobczak said. "It's not out of the range of acceptable fees, and the administration is counting on increased fees to help balance the budget."

In case the reporter did not get what Sobczak was saying, Sobczak repeated the fact that these fees and cameras are indeed a money grab.

As Lisa Renee said :

The City is counting on the increased revenue to help the budget which means, they are counting on residents of NWO to run red lights and to speed through intersections. After all, if you all slow down and follow our traffic laws by driving safely then imagine the horrible affect it would have on our budget.

Yes, Toledoans, do your part to help the city by breaking traffic laws as often as possible.

More from the Blade story :

Council President Mark Sobczak said the increase request does not seem to have opposition from councilmen. Councilman Tom Waniewski asked if the Finkbeiner administration would consider installing flashing yellow lights in advance of red lights to warn motorists. "I'm concerned that a lot of times now, particularly now with increased air patrol, which is intended to be a revenue generator, that we're becoming a gotcha city," Mr. Waniewski said.

posted by jr on Feb 06, 2008 at 06:09:05 pm     #

City Council passed the Redflex contract in November - it was supposed to take effect on January 1. It was this contract that included the increased fees as well as an increase in the percentage the city gets from the fees (from 25% up to 45-54% depending on which violation you're charged with).

This legislation is just to change the Toledo Municipal Code to reflect the new amounts in the contract.

The reason this change isn't going to get any opposition is because they've already approved the changes when they voted on the contract.

However, the new council members who didn't vote in November may have a differing opinion.

posted by MaggieThurber on Feb 06, 2008 at 07:41:23 pm     #

What???

"Install flashing yellow lights in advance of red lights to warn motorists" (of the upcoming red light)????

Don't our traffic lights already come with a yellow light that warns you to prepare to stop?

I'm not a fan of the cameras, but I imagine it would be pretty expensive to install the flashing yellows all over town.

posted by braincramp on Feb 06, 2008 at 10:47:16 pm     #

The warning lights exist in Oregon on Route 2 along Pearson Park where the speed limit is 50 mph. If lights begin flashing, you know the traffic light will turn red before you get to the intersection. Not flashing, you'll be green all the way. It's probably handy for the 18-wheelers that may be going 50 to 55 mph, since it obviously gives truckers time to slow down. And Route 2 has a fair amount of truck traffic. The warning lights seem to make sense on roads with higher speed limits. Is the speed limit on the Trail 50 mph? I don't think the Trail has a lot of truck traffic, does it?

posted by jr on Feb 06, 2008 at 11:22:15 pm     #

I think it's silly to depend on these cameras as a source of revenue. How can it be a steady revenue stream if people obey the law? It might provide some revenue, but not what they expect. Only income tax and real estate tax are able to provide a predictable revenue stream.

posted by oldsendbrdy on Feb 07, 2008 at 05:39:21 pm     #

Five years ago, Feb 19, 2003 Toledo Blade story titled Fines rise for some red-light violations :

Toledo City Council last night approved an ordinance raising the civil penalty for driving through a red light at camera-monitored intersections from $75 to $95. The same ordinance gives police the power to use the red-light cameras to nab speeders, setting the civil penalty for that infraction at $95.

Police Chief Michael Navarre said last night the public accepts the use of cameras for red light-running because of safety concerns, but other cities have had to backtrack on using cameras for speeders. "Speeding cameras are perceived by the public as nothing more than a revenue [enhancer]," Chief Navarre said. "So that's why the mayor, at this point, is only interested in doing the school zones."

He said police sometimes use the red-light cameras to monitor speed. "We have clocked cars going through red lights at 90 mph on the [Anthony Wayne] Trail," the chief said. The city installed red-light cameras in 2001 at 10 Toledo intersections, leading to a 26 percent drop in accidents.

Last week, Feb 13, 2008 Toledo Blade story titled City Council increases red-light camera fines :

Toledo City Council last night approved an increase in the fines for automated red-light and speeding cameras - revenue expected to be about $2.5 million in 2008. The fines go up from the current $95 to $120. The city's share of the fines also will increase from 25 percent to 55 percent. The new terms are expected to increase the city's revenue from the camera enforcement from about $500,000 a year under the current contract to about $2.5 million a year. The cameras generated $606,025 for the city in 2007.

posted by jr on Feb 19, 2008 at 11:57:00 am     #

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