LAKE WALES, Fla. (WFLA) — A study suggests that hundreds of thousands of violations could occur annually in Lake Wales once cameras are set up at three intersections and several school zones later this year.
“I have no issue with something like that. If folks are following the rules, what’s there to be concerned about?” said Joseph Nittoli, a resident near Lake Wales.
From what Nittoli can tell, there are plenty of drivers on State Road 60 in Lake Wales who should be worried about red light cameras.
“There are plenty of lights on 60, and people are often in a rush—heading to work and running those lights. I’ve witnessed drivers accelerating through as the light turns red,” he observed.
The Lake Wales city commission approved a contract with automated traffic solution company, Altumint, to install red light cameras on the westbound side of three intersections on State Road 60 at 1st Street, 11th Street and 3rd Street.
In March, a child was injured at State Road 60 and 3rd Street when he was hit by a car while crossing the street on his way to school.
Altumint estimates that cameras at those three intersections could catch 179,945 violations annually, according to a presentation by the city of Lake Wales.
“If this system saves one life, it’s all worth it to me,” said Lt. Edward Palmer, Lake Wales Police Department. “We’re not able to be everywhere and if we stop a vehicle, a lot of time, when we stop a vehicle there’s five that just passed us.”
Video captured by Altumint during a study period shows cars and semi trucks running red lights.
The company also found hundreds of daily speed violations in school zones.
Lake Wales city officials said speed cameras will be installed in the Lake Wales High School, McLaughlin Academy and Hillcrest Elementary School zones.
They will be operating during school hours and will cite drivers going 11 miles per hour over the speed limit.
“With this system in place, we can allow our officers to handle different things and the system will take care of this,” said Lt. Palmer.
“Some citizens have stressed their concern about the cameras that are gonna be integrated into this program but the importance of these cameras is to change the behaviors of these motorists. If we can save lives, with implementing a program like this, we feel it’s got value,” said Eric Marshall, director of communications for the city of Lake Wales.
Violators of the red light cameras will receive a $158 citation. The speed camera violation will have a $100 fee.
The city will pay Altumint $3,499 per month for each red light camera.
The city is still determining whether it will pay Altumint $3,499 for each school zone camera or if the company will get a percentage of the citation fee.
Lake Wales joins a growing group of cities and towns that have implemented traffic enforcement cameras in Polk County.
That includes Lakeland, Haines City, Bartow and Lake Alfred, which have red light cameras, school zone speed cameras or both.
News Channel 8 is told that other cities and towns with police departments are looking into the program.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has not been involved in any red light or school zone speed cameras.
However, the sheriff’s office does work with Polk County Public Schools on its school bus camera program.
