Manatee County, Florida -- Starting Monday, the act of running red lights at some busy intersections in Manatee County will be a costly decision for drivers.
The county began enforcing the $158 fine on those who run red lights at two intersections beginning at 12:01 this morning. The cameras are located at 53rd Avenue and 34th Street West and at 57th Avenue East and 15th Street East.
Commissioners approved an agreement in September and imposed a one-month warning period that resulted in 969 warnings mailed out to drivers who drive through red lights at the two intersections.
Local traffic and law enforcement officials are evaluating the following intersections to determine whether there are safety concerns that could be helped by the cameras:
- Cortez Road and U.S. 41
- Cortez Road and 26th Street West
- Cortez Road and 59th Street West
- U.S. 41 and 53rd Avenue West
- U.S. 41 and 57th Avenue West
- S.R. 70 and Tara Boulevard
- U.S. 301 and 60th Avenue East, near the Ellenton Premium Outlets
Melissa Wandall, whose husband Mark was killed in Manatee County by a red light runner in 2003, has championed red light cameras across the state and said statistics show that red light violations are reduced between 40 percent and 96 percent where the cameras have been installed.