After a month in which red-light runners caught on film received warnings, the city begins issuing fines on Wednesday.

Part of a pilot program approved by the City Council to improve traffic safety, red light cameras were installed at two intersections on 148th Avenue, at Bel-Red Road for north and southbound traffic, and Main Street for southbound traffic only.

Automated cameras snap pictures of cars that enter the intersection after the light has turned red. The images, which show the vehicle and license plate, go with video of the incident.

To accustom drivers to the cameras, similar to the speed enforcement cameras installed in two Bellevue school zones last fall, only warnings were issued to red-light runners in January. More than 1,000 courtesy notices were issued. 

Starting Wednesday, Bellevue Police will begin issuing citations with $124 fines. These citations are considered civil infractions, not moving violations, so do not affect motorists' driving records or, in most cases, their insurance rates.

"Photo enforcement has been shown to reduce speeding, reduce red light violations and improve safety," said Traffic Captain Pat Spak.

Bellevue contracts with American Traffic Solutions, Inc. to administer its camera enforcement program. Before citations are mailed to the registered owners of speeding vehicles, Bellevue Police officers review and confirms each violation.

Vehicle owners who receive a citation can log on to http://www.ViolationInfo.com for information and to view the violation.

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