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Missouri adopts policy for red-light cameras

New standards for red-light cameras were approved unanimously today. (St. Louis Public Radio)
New standards for red-light cameras were approved unanimously today. (St. Louis Public Radio)

A uniform policy for the use of traffic enforcement cameras was approved unanimously today by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

The new standards require that all tickets for red-light violations be issued by an actual police officer.

Don Hillis with MoDOT says they also include updating warning signs ahead of intersections with red-light cameras.

"The simple change that we're recommending...is (to) add underneath the signing that we have there, 'Includes right turns,'" Hillis told the commission before the vote.  "That way, (motorists) have been given some notification and have an opportunity to adjust their behavior as they approach the intersection."

Hillis also defended the use of red-light cameras, saying their use has saved lives in Missouri.

"The 44.7 percent reduction in fatality and serious injury crashes related to right angles," Hillis said.  "A right angle (crash) is where the front end of one car hits the side of another car...(red-light cameras) work."

But Hillis also admitted that the number of rear-end crashes at intersections with red-light cameras rose slightly.

According to MoDOT, there are 88 intersections on state highways where red-light cameras are in use.

Marshal was a political reporter for St. Louis Public Radio until 2018.