Critic of red light cameras seeks to ban “right on red” turns in N.J.

A New Jersey lawmaker wants to ban right-turns-on-red at intersections with red light cameras.

Senator Shirley Turner say about 80 percent of the fines from red light camera violations in her district result from not stopping long enough before turning right on red.

“If we can cut out the right hand turns at those intersections where there are red light cameras, I think eventually they’ll have to take those cameras down because it will not be profitable,” said Turner. “So we’re trying to starve the beast.”

Law enforcement officials say banning those right-on-red turns would cause more traffic delays.

Turner says there are already delays at those intersections because drivers fearful of getting a ticket are not turning on red anyway.

Turner has opposed red light cameras from the start. She maintains they’re just a cash cow for municipalities and the companies that install them.

“The motorist is being bled to death in terms of their wallets because they’re making these right hand turns and they’re not aware that they have to come to a complete stop and they have to stop there for a certain number of seconds,” she said.