Photo Radar Citations Begin on Loop 101 - Fine's Shown
Photo Radar Citations Begin on Loop 101
After a 31-day warning period, civil speeding citations are now being issued in Scottsdale to motorists who trigger speed cameras on the Loop 101 Freeway within the city's boundaries.
The new phase of the project began in earnest at 12:01 a.m., when a southbound vehicle near Shea Boulevard activated the first flash that could result in a citation. As of noon Wednesday, preliminary figures showed that cameras had taken photos of 167 drivers.
For the city's nine-month test program, Scottsdale has installed six photo enforcement cameras along the freeway from just north of 90th Street to Scottsdale Road. Signs mark the 7.8-mile photo enforcement zone. The program is believed to be the first fixed-camera photo enforcement system deployed on a freeway in the United States.
The average volume on the freeway is about 150,000 vehicles per day on weekdays and slightly less on weekends. During the first 30 days of the warning period, cameras detected speeds over 76 mph an average of about 770 times daily on weekdays and about 1,400 times daily on weekends and holidays.
At last count, cameras had snapped more than 30,000 vehicles during the test period, and more than 11,000 warning notices had been mailed out as of Feb. 21. The city is not mailing duplicate notices to motorists who have exceeded the limits more than once. Warnings take several days to process.
The cameras are set to snap photos of drivers who exceed speed limits by 11 mph or more. The speed limit on the 101 is 65 mph.
All citations issued on the freeway will be processed by the Scottsdale Police Department and referred to the Scottsdale City Court. The total cost for a typical speeding citation is $157.
Breakdown
76 to 80 mph - $157 fine
81 to 85 mph - $177 fine
86 mph or more - $201 fine and possible arrest
The process of matching photographs with license plates and driver information and mailing a citation usually occurs in about two weeks. When the city can positively identify the driver, a citation is mailed directly to the driver's address. Otherwise, the city sends a notice of violation to the registered owner of the vehicle, requesting identification. The citations and notices of violation include pictures of the driver and license plate, time of violation and speed.
For more information, motorists may call 480-312-SAFE or visit the city's web site at ScottsdaleAZ.gov.
02.22.06
