As seen on Nov. 18, here’s the new camera equipment watching the westbound approach on Queen Avenue at Geary Street.
New speed and red-light cameras have been installed at Queen Avenue and Geary Street in Albany. I don’t know whether the cameras have gone live yet. And I’m not about to test it by risking a ticket.
The installation at Queen and Geary was scheduled around Nov. 15, City Manager Peter Troedsson said at the beginning of the month. On Tuesday I asked Police Chief Marcia Harnden whether the cameras had gone live yet or caught any violations.
“We are getting our initial training on the new dashboard tomorrow,” the chief replied via email. “Once we know the ins and outs of the new ticket viewing portal, I will be able to answer your question. Check back with me on Friday or Monday.”
Queen and Geary has had red-light cameras on two approaches since 2007. The cameras checked for red-light violations on the north and east approaches.
Now those cameras have been replaced with new ones, on the same two approaches, that monitor both red-light runners and, when the light is green, speeders.
In December 2023, the council authorized speed cameras there as well as speed and red-light cameras at three other intersections.
Troedsson summarized the status of the project in his Nov. 1 report to the council:
“Installation of enhanced automated enforcement at the Queen and Geary intersection is scheduled for November 15. A 30-day warning period, during which no fines will be assessed, will commence once the system goes live. A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is posted on the City’s homepage as well as the APD and Municipal Court pages. This link will take you there: albanyoregon.gov/police/
The city’s list of frequent questions could use more precise answers.
For example, “How fast can you exceed the speed limit before being issued a ticket?” The city’s answer: “The cameras have a threshold for activation, but the goal is to reduce the chances of dangerous collisions by ensuring drivers follow posted speed limits.”
Of course, but the answer is that under state law, speed enforcement cameras are supposed to photograph drivers only if they exceed the speed limit by 11 mph or more.
One of the questions on the list is whether “accident stats” will be published before and after cameras are installed. The city answers that “these statistics are reported regularly on our website.”
The link goes to the police department’s website showing various reports. The monthly crashes are under “Compstat reports.” And as of now, the maps showing monthly collisions go only through June 17.
When you look at the maps, you will notice this: The intersections where the city is putting cameras are not the intersections where most of the crashes take place. (hh)
If they get a photo ticket, drivers going south on Geary can’t say that they haven’t been warned.
Those “Regularly” posted accidents aren’t really very informative. For instance – what time of day, day of week, how many vehicles, Injuries?, citations/arrests?
It appears to me that there are a large number of these accidents on particular streets that are heavily traveled, yet you seldom, if ever see a patrol car on those streets. ??????????????????
So, in reality, the speed limit is actually posted speed plus 10 mph. No wonder so many people get crazy when a person actually drives the speed limit, be it Highway 99 or residential streets.