DelDOT Launches Program To Collect Fines For Delinquent Red Light Camera Violators

Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is announcing new efforts aimed at collecting money that is owed by Delaware's Electronic Red Light Safety Program (ERLSP) violators. While the program collects approximately 88% of red light violation fines and penalties each year, DelDOT wants to improve its overall collection efforts. Nearly $4.5 million is owed by both in-state and out-of-state violators, with Delaware violators representing approximately 48-percent of the total. Starting in October, in an effort to satisfy these fines, delinquent violations will be turned over to collections.

DelDOT contracts with American Traffic Systems (ATS) to administer the ERLSP program. Under the program, the fine for a violation is $112.50 and is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. A $10 late charge is added to the initial violation fine for each month it is delinquent up to 90 days. The violation fines and penalties are as follows:
Violation: $112.50
30 days late: $122.50
60 days late: $132.50
90 days late: $142.50

For in-state drivers who have unpaid violations, a hold is placed on their vehicle registration. This hold will prevent them from registering their vehicle at renewal until the fine is paid. For both delinquent in-state and out-of-state violators, the cases are being turned over to a collection agency for processing. Violators will be subject to written notifications and collection calls through Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, and Sampson, the ERLSP collection agent, during the course of the collections process. Reciprocity agreements with motor vehicle agencies in surrounding states for possible registration holds on out-of-state violators are currently being discussed.

Delaware's Electronic Red Light Safety Program (ERLSP) is a safety program focused on changing driver behavior at red light intersections through a comprehensive effort involving engineering, education and enforcement. The program uses automated enforcement to enhance the safety of motorists at red light intersections located within the state.

Making Delaware's Roads Safer:
1. Red light running is estimated to produce more than 100,000 crashes and an estimated 1,000 deaths in the United States each year. Red light crashes are more likely than other crashes to cause injury.
2. Last year, there were over 54,800 red light running violations at the 30 intersections with ERLSP cameras.
3. Studies show that red light camera programs are effective in reducing crashes at intersections, especially right-angle crashes, which cause the most personal injury.
4. The ERLSP program has demonstrated significant success in reducing the number of accidents due to red light running at monitored intersections by 42 percent over the last five years.
5. The issuance of citations by automated enforcement is a fair and objective way to remind drivers that they are required by law to stop at red lights, and that there are consequences for unsafe driving practices, like red-light running.

Unlike traditional violations cited by a police officer, the camera violations are considered a civil offense not a criminal one. Because of this, the violation and fine will not impact a motorist's insurance rate or accumulate points on their driving record.

The ERLSP began operations on February 1, 2004 with the activation of a camera located at the intersection of Route 13 and Webbs Lane in Dover. Currently there are 30 red light camera locations within the state. The location of these intersections and information on how you can pay your ERLSP violation can be found at http://www.deldot.gov/information/red_light/.

The City of Wilmington also operates its own red light camera program, independent from DelDOT, with an additional 25 locations within the city and manages its own collection program.