Red Light Cameras Mulled In Horsham Township

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Citing the effectiveness of other area communities, the township is considering red light cameras.

At its meeting last Wednesday, Horsham Township Council heard a presentation by Police Chief Scott Fida about red light camera usage reducing the number of traffic accidents in three nearby municipalities that use them.

Fida cited data from Abington Township, which has witnessed a 28 percent decline in traffic accidents.

Meanwhile, two Bucks County communities have also seen reductions.

Fida cited Warrington Township, which has seen a 36 percent decrease and Bensalem Township, where accidents have fallen by 17 percent.

Nearby Warminster Township has also started using the red-light cameras, but no available is available as of yet.

Like many communities, the township would install the red-light cameras at key intersections.

Fida said that cameras would be installed at three intersections:

• Horsham Road and Maple Avenue
• Horsham Road and Norristown Road
• County Line and Meetinghouse Road.

If a camera is installed, right turns on red will not be allowed unless the road has a cut out or traffic island that permits them.

The township is considering using a Swedish firm, Sensys Gatso, that is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and used by seven towns in the state.

The company would review the camera footage of a violation and then pass the information on to township police.

Violations would cost a driver a $100 civil penalty. No points are issued against the vehicle owner, and any infraction will does increase insurance rates.

There would be a 100-day warning period after the cameras are installed before fines would be enacted.

Disputes would be handled by calling the company or by having an administrative hearing before a PennDOT hearing officer.

Horsham Township would not pay any upfront costs but also would not receive any money from the company, with the money collected from violations paying the company's costs.

Township residents will be notified if an ordinance allowing the red-light cameras goes into effect.