ROUND ROCK, Texas -- The red light cameras in Round Rock will go dark after Thursday, as the pilot program is coming to an end.
City officials unanimously voted to end the pilot program in October, citing it had no effect on driver safety.
"Looking at the statistics of red light runners and what the program has done, the city has taken the position to stop the program," said Round Rock Police Sgt. Justin Davis, a 20-year veteran.
Despite the data, some drivers believed the red light cameras did make a difference.
"Does it help? Yeah I do believe it does help a little bit for the red light cameras to be there. Definitely makes people aware," said Michael Penny of Round Rock.
"To me, public safety overrides the small problem of personal privacy that you may encounter," said Dennis Fortney, who moved to Round Rock earlier this year.
"When I got here, I liked the idea of the traffic cameras," Fortney added.
City officials said a main issue with the program was the $75 fine was a civil offense, and thus not enforceable.
"There's really no repercussions or provisions if somebody doesn't pay the red light camera violation," said Davis.
Still, Fortney said the city should make the fines given out by red light cameras criminal.
"Change the law, make them criminal. [Make it] a criminal offense to violate the cameras," said Fortney, who added he believes it's more cost-effective to keep the cameras in place than to increase police presence in those areas.
Davis explained since the program was run through a private company, the fines had to remain civil in nature. With the cameras gone, officers plan on increasing their enforcement throughout the city.
"Even though the cameras are not at those intersections doesn't mean we're not going to continue to watch those intersections, because we want to make sure our traveling public in Round Rock is safe when they do so. And we want people to make sure they make that conscious decision to stop at red lights," said Davis.
With tougher enforcement comes comes stiffer penalties. If an officer catches a driver running a red light, the driver can face a $207 fine.
"If a police officer stops you, then if you don't pay, then it can turn into a warrant for your arrest," said Davis.
The red light camera program came at no cost to the city, as all associated costs were covered by the vendor. Round Rock had 10 red light cameras set up at six intersections. Davis said their main goal is keeping drivers safe.
"The main goal that we want to put out there to the community or the traveling motorists through Round Rock [or anywhere else], is that when you come up to a light that's about to change to red, that you make the conscious decision to stop. Don't take the chance of running that red light and creating a tragic event for yourself or somebody else. You know safety is the primary goal of us, when anybody is getting behind the wheel of a vehicle," he said.
Police say they don't plan on going after drivers who didn't pay their civil offenses from the red light cameras.
