New red light camera in place at 2nd and Erie

The Philadelphia Parking Authority has installed a red light camera at Second and Erie in North Philadelphia.

It’s the 28th intersection in the city to come under red light-camera scrutiny, according to Corrine  O’Connor, the authority’s deputy executive director. Selection of that intersection for the technology that films drivers who ignore traffic lights was based on many factors, she said.

“We went out and did a study, and there was a high rate of red-light running,” she said. “Once we went to that intersection, we found there was a mix of commercial, residential and a couple of schools, which usually make that a good area where you want to make that intersection as safe as possible.”

O’Connor said drivers caught on camera running the light at the intersection will not be fined for several weeks.

“It’s actually 45 days, which is the warning phase,” she said. “And after the 45-day period, we will actually start real violations.”

That phase ends Dec. 1.  For the fiscal year ending March 31, the authority reported just under $13 million in revenue from the intersections in the city equipped with cameras