Pittsburgh's red-light cameras go live
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Verra Mobility automated red-light camera used at Pittsburgh intersections. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Pittsburgh has installed its first automated red-light cameras at two city intersections.
Why it matters: Pittsburgh has seen hundreds of crashes linked to drivers running red lights over the years, killing several people, and automated cameras in other cities like Philadelphia have proven to save lives.
The latest: Cameras at the intersections at North Dallas Avenue and Penn Avenue in Point Breeze and Saw Mill Run Boulevard and Woodruff Street in Beechview are live.
- A 60-day warning period started Wednesday, during which violators will receive warnings mailed to the vehicle's owner.
- Starting Oct. 11, violators will receive tickets.
State law sets the fine at $100.
- A police officer reviews each incident before sending out tickets.
- Tickets from red-light cameras are treated like parking infractions, and there are no points against drivers’ insurance.
- Violators have 30 days to pay the fine or appeal.
How it works: Cameras will take photos and video of drivers who move past the stop bar at intersections while the light is red, according to Verra Mobility, the company supplying the cameras.
- Photos are only taken of the rear of the vehicle to confirm the license plate.
- The data is owned by the city and destroyed after 30 days.
Zoom in: Four more intersections will implement automated red-light enforcement cameras over the next few months. Those will have 30-day warning periods after each goes live. They are:
- General Robinson and Anderson streets near the Parkway North on-ramp in the North Shore
- Negley and Fifth avenues in Shadyside
- Browns Hill Road and Parkview Boulevard near the Homestead-Grays Bridge in Squirrel Hill
- Chateau Street and West End Bridge on the North Side
What they’re saying: “Those milliseconds can change someone’s life. We are committed to the goal of no more traffic deaths in the city,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor.
By the numbers: The city reported 759 crashes due to drivers running red lights between 2019-2023.
- Seven of those crashes were fatal.
- There were 39 associated crashes at the six targeted intersections between 2019-2023.
Zoom out: Over 300 cities nationwide use automated red-light cameras.
- They have reduced fatal red-light crash rates by 21%, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- Red-light cameras used in 57 American cities saved approximately 1,300 lives over 22 years, per the institute.
State of play: State law limits how much Pittsburgh can collect from red-light camera fees. The city cannot collect fees equal to or greater than 5% of its annual budget through this program.
- O’Connor said it's unclear if the program will save money in enforcement costs.
Learn more about Pittsburgh’s red-light program here.
What’s next: The city plans to add the cameras to up to 21 intersections over the next several years, said O’Connor.
- He said the city might expand the program after that, if it proves successful.