F.C. Announces New Sites for Red Light Cameras

As of this Tuesday, the City of Falls Church put into operation a "Photo Red Light" traffic enforcement camera at the intersection of E. Broad and Cherry Streets.

The camera was moved from the intersection of Annandale Road and Hillwood Avenue, where one remaining camera is due to be relocated soon to the intersection of S. Washington and Marshall Streets.

Two other cameras, at the intersections of W. Broad and Birch and W. Broad and Annandale Road, will remain where they've operated since first installed in 2001.

The system is called "Crossing Guard" and is operated by Nestor Traffic Systems, Inc. The system uses video tape to catch motorists that cross into the intersection against a red light. Videos include clear images of license plates. Each video is reviewed by a Falls Church police officer, and if the violation is confirmed, a citation with a $50 fine is mailed.

An important safety feature of the program is its ability to anticipate of a violation, enabling it to automatically freeze the red light in the lanes going the other direction whenever a violation is expected. This is possible because the system's videotaping of cars begins before they arrive at the intersection, gauging speed and rates of acceleration or deceleration. It uses this information to determine whether or not to freeze lights in the lanes crossing the intersection so as to hold cars that might otherwise cross in front of the potential violator.

According to a statement from the City of Falls Church's Public Information Office, the effectiveness of the program is measured through a decline, over time, in the numbers of violators at existing locations.

Although operating as a public safety system, and not for the purpose of issuing citations, the system has been a generous contributor to the City's revenue base since its implementation. The City's official expectation for revenue from the system in the fiscal year beginning next week is $600,000, or more than three cents on the real estate tax rate.

Questions about the system can be addressed to the Falls Church Office of Public Safety at (703) 248-5052.