Photo Enforcement Reprieve

by Marlene Berlin

Drivers in DC are getting a brief reprieve – and more time to practice coming to a full stop at stop signs, traveling at the speed limit through green lights, and stopping for pedestrians at unsignalized crosswalks.

Expanded photo enforcement ticketing was to start yesterday after a month of warnings. But because some locations have not been in operation a month, this grace period has been extended until February 1st. Here is a map of current locations.

Lisa Sutter, the head of MPD’s photo enforcement program, has been getting many requests for this enforcement. Right now, MPD has about 100 cameras in place with 91 units yet to deploy. She is expecting this new batch of locations to be up and running in January and February.

Ms. Sutter is thrilled to be in a position to have equipment available to help neighborhoods deal with their traffic safety issues. So far she is confident in being able to handle all the requests that have come in. She welcomes more. Please contact her at [email protected].

Every location will be evaluated as to whether photo enforcement is appropriate. These factors, among others, will be taken into consideration:

 
Because the new equipment is mobile, once drivers have changed their behavior at a particular location, the camera can be moved to another. If the problem crops up again, it can be moved back.