A measure to make some changes in the New Jersey’s red light camera program is on hold.

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon says more than half of the red light camera tickets result from not coming to a complete stop before turning right on red. He wants to eliminate that violation at red light camera intersections.
 

“Right on red maneuvers cause very few accidents and even fewer injury accidents. These systems are supposed to be about limiting serious straight through red light violations. That’s what they should be focused on.”

Sgt. Robert Christie is the Traffic Bureau Supervisor for the Union Township Police Department. He says eliminating that violation would create a double standard and pose safety issues.
 

“To tie our hands and say we don’t want you to issue any tickets for that, what’s next? What other laws are you going to tell us that you don’t you want us to enforce? It’s just a dangerous precedent.”

Assembly Transportation Committee chairman John John Wisniewski says the police officers who testified raised legitimate concerns about the uniformity of right turns on red.
 

“If folks know that where there’s a camera they don't face enforcement for not stopping it may encourage people to abuse that provision of the right turn on red law.”

Wisniewski says the bill needs more work. He says he'll try to make revisions to build public confidence in the red light camera program.