Warwick introduces red light cameras at 5 intersections

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Officials in Warwick celebrated a deal with traffic camera manufacturer Altumint that they believed will make the city safer to drive in.

Warwick city officials stood at the intersection of Main Avenue and Greenwich Avenue, which now has a traffic camera overseeing it.

Drivers now have a thirty day grace period with cameras sending warning tickets, but starting July 4, drivers violating red light laws at five intersections throughout the city will get an $85 ticket.

“When people know those cameras are there, they drive differently, and eventually those corrective actions become normal behavior,” Altumint Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Jason Norton.

Warwick police officers said they hope to change the behavior of some drivers in the city.

After traffic studies showed 508 red light violations at the corner of Post Road and Airport Road, and 140 at the intersection of Greenwich Avenue and Main Avenue in only a single day.

“This isn’t just about enforcement, it’s about safety, accountability and responsibility,” Deputy Chief of Police Michael Lima said. “We’re not just enforcing the law, we’re protecting lives.”

The city will lease the cameras from Altumint for the five years, with a total of 15 red light cameras monitoring traffic.

“When the program is fully operational in the fall, Altumint will have installed over 100 warning signs throughout the city,” Norton said. “If you get a citation here in warwick, you’ve earned it.”

In addition to the red light cameras, Altumint will be installing school zone speed cameras at eleven different schools in the city.

Those will be active by Aug. 2, the first day of school in the city.