D.C. Police Delay Tickets From New Traffic Cameras

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A warning period has been extended for a new set of automated traffic enforcement cameras in the District of Columbia before ticketing drivers for speeding and infractions at stop signs, crosswalks and intersections.

Police spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said late Sunday that ticketing will not begin Monday as planned. She said the police department wants to make sure all the locations clock 30 days of issuing warnings first. Crump did not provide any estimate or date for when tickets will begin being issued.

District of Columbia police unveiled about 100 new cameras in late November. The system includes cameras for "gridlock enforcement" that will ticket vehicles for "blocking the box" at intersections. There are also portable stop sign enforcement cameras to ticket drivers for not stopping in residential neighborhoods.

Police say the speed cameras are being placed at intersections with known speeding problems and to target "aggressive and dangerous driving." The new system includes 32 cameras at stop signs to ticket drivers who do not come to a complete stop, 24 new speed cameras and 20 gridlock cameras to ticket drivers who fail to clear cross walks or intersections before a traffic signal changes.

Some of the new cameras are mobile and can be moved to various sites. The cameras will issue fines ranging from $50 to $250 per violation. In 2012, speed and red light cameras generated $95.6 million in revenue, according to city figures.

Once the new cameras begin issuing tickets, the district will have nearly 300 automated traffic enforcement cameras issuing citations.

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