LaFollette officials considering red light cameras, speed cameras

LaFollette officials considering red light cameras, speed cameras

By KRISTYN HENTSCHEL
6 News Reporter 

LAFOLLETTE (WATE) -- LaFollette city officials are considering putting red light cameras and speed cameras into use.

Along Jacksboro Pike, a main thoroughfare in LaFollette, law enforcement officials say they have a big problem with drivers not obeying the rules of the road, including speeding and running red lights.

Officer John Baker issues roughly 25 speeding tickets and 12 red light citations a month. "Just this morning, we had a woman run a red light and cause an accident in the middle of town."

City administrator David Young says, "We think from a safety stand point, it's going to be a really good thing for the city of LaFollette."

Violators would be fined around $50 but the points wouldn't count against a driver's license.

"The revenue is a side effect," Young says. "We're looking at the safety involved that will no only provide revenue, but hopefully slow down traffic."

LaFollette Police Chief Ben Baird says the cameras would be an added tool for his department. "We can't devote time setting cars at red lights so this should help the level of enforcement we're not able to provide."

The company called Red Flex would decide where speed or red light cameras should be placed.

But for now, speed cameras and red light cameras are just possibilities in talks between  LaFollette officials. The issue will be reviewed at the city council meeting in February.

In some other East Tennessee cities, Morristown officials say their red light cameras should be up and running in the next few months.  

In Oak Ridge, officials are still weighing the idea of putting cameras up at their busiest intersections.  

And Knoxville currently has 15 red light cameras in use. Police say since the first one was installed in 2006, crashes have been reduced by 40 percent.