Traffic camera fibs spread by e-mail

A widely read e-mail with misinformation about Hillsborough County's new red-light camera program is causing minor headaches for the sheriff's office.

The e-mail contains at least three factual errors about the program that uses cameras to catch motorists running red lights.

"That (e-mail) keeps bouncing around," said sheriff's Cpl. Darrin Barlow. "I don't know where it's coming from but it's not accurate."

The message says the red-light cameras, which began operating Oct. 30, went "live" Nov. 10, and that fines will start being assessed for guilty drivers "beginning in December." The current courtesy period, during which drivers who are caught running a red light on camera get a notice instead of a fine, actually ends Dec. 29.

The e-mail also says drivers will get a ticket if their front tires go over the fat white line on the street known as a stop bar. Barlow said tickets will be given to people whose cars go all the way through the intersection when the light is red.

Also, contrary to the e-mail, tickets will not be given to people who don't come to a complete stop before making right turns on a red light. Tickets for right-on-red turns will only be given if the driver is turning at more than 15 mph, Barlow said.

"Our program doesn't target right-hand turns," Barlow said. "At some of our intersections, right-hand turns are not even monitored."

The intersections in unincorporated Hillsborough County that have the cameras are Fletcher Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Sligh Avenue and Habana Avenue, Brandon Boulevard and Grand Regency Boulevard, Bloomingdale Avenue and Bell Shoals Road, Waters Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway, and Waters Avenue and Anderson Road. There's also a red-light camera at Fowler Avenue and 56th Street operated by the city of Temple Terrace.

The e-mail started circulating more than a week ago and Barlow said he's still getting calls about it from reporters and others who have seen it.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated there was no red-light camera at Fowler Avenue and 56th Street.