Columbus making money from red-light cameras

Columbus raked in fines from red-light cameras in 2012, more than last 2 years combined

3/22/2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Red-light cameras are proving to be a money-maker for the city of Columbus.

A record number of citations issued to red-light runners brought in $2.1 million last year — more than the previous two years combined. Red-light fines totaled about $1.1 million in 2011.

The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/15ud40D ) reports that the city has added 20 cameras at intersections over the past two years, and now has a total of 38.

The city says the red-light cameras are not about making money, but about improving safety at some of the most dangerous intersections.

The city says crashes at the first 18 intersections to get cameras have dropped by more than 75 percent each year between 2008 and 2011.

Red-light and speed cameras are used in more than 500 U.S. municipalities.