Loganville set to install red light camera
By Sharon Swanepoel
The Loganville Tribune

Published December 15, 2006
LOGANVILLE — The City of Loganville looks set to join several Gwinnett County cities next year by installing its first red light camera.

The plan is for the contract to be signed following a public hearing prior to the January city council meeting and then to have the camera up and running by March, according to City Manager Bill Jones.

“The only location that warrants a camera according to studies is on the No Turn On Red lane at the intersection of Highway 78 and 81,” Jones said. “The expected revenue from that location is about $300,000 and it would cost the city about $50,000 a year, netting $250,000.”

Major Dick Lowery of the Loganville Police Department said the study had found the intersection recorded the highest number of violators.

“And when you have a high number of violators you have a higher risk for accidents,” Lowery said. “Your largest number of accidents are at intersections and failure to yield is the leading cause. You have so much traffic on Highway 78 and Highway 81 now, especially at peak times, and with the two schools in such close proximity it is a concern.”

Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer said the red light cameras in Snellville have been successful in reducing serious accidents at the intersections where the cameras are installed but there are still about as many minor fender-benders. He also said the initial revenue generated by the cameras at the outset did go down but now appears to have stabilized.

“We don’t have a way of monitoring exactly how much revenue, if any, is generated by the cameras,” Oberholtzer said. “We have no way of knowing exactly what that cost is but it has definitely reduced the serious accidents which was the main purpose.”

Loganville residents will be able to voice their opinion on the subject at the January public hearing prior to the vote but the expected revenue is already accounted for in the 2007 budget. However, Jones said an amendment to the budget could be adopted if for any reason the city decided against putting in the camera.

“We have two budget amendments already prepared,” Jones said. “One with the camera revenue and one without.”

A tentative date to discuss the proposal was set at Monday’s city council work session for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11.