In less than two weeks, motorists who run red lights at five intersections in Warwick will be caught on candid camera.

On Wednesday, overlooking one of those intersections, Mayor Frank Picozzi and Warwick police held a press conference regarding the implementation of red light and speed cameras in school zones in partnership with Altumint, a Maryland company.

Red light cameras will be installed at the following intersections: 

Altumint has been in operation for over a decade and has developed 75 programs in 11 states. The city has a five-year lease with the company that will begin when the last camera is installed. No city funds will be used, as citation fines will cover the cost of the lease. Altumint will also pay for the installation and maintenance of the traffic cameras. Both Altumint and Warwick police are confident fines will cover the cost of the lease [$2,000 a month per red light camera] and then generate additional revenues for the city.

For now, there is a 30-day grace period in which drivers who commit red light violations will receive warning tickets. After that, citations will be issued by first-class mail, and the fine will be $85. If one receives a citation, they can review it online before either transferring liability, contesting it or paying it.

Citations will be issued to drivers who go through a light that turns red before they enter the intersection. Altumint will review all citations for accuracy, and the Warwick Police Department will then approve or deny them before they are issued. 

“These programs are being implemented with one clear goal in mind: to make our roads safer for everyone,” said Warwick Police Cmdr. Michael Lima. “We have seen firsthand the risks that come with red light running, and in too many instances, a few seconds of impatience or distraction have resulted in crashes that have forever changed lives.”

Altumint is installing 15 cameras among the five chosen intersections. To determine where to place the cameras, Warwick police conducted a two-day study at intersections they believed would have the most violations. In just one day, the intersection of Post and Airport Roadsrecorded 508 red light violations.

Coming soon: Speed cameras

Also going into place late this summer will be 24 speed cameras at 11 locations as part of the School Zone Speed Enforcement Program. To be issued a citation, drivers must be going at least 31 mph, 11 over the limit. These speeding cameras will be in operation from 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays during the academic year and will be placed in school zones on Aug. 28, the first day of the academic year in Warwick schools. The fine will be $50.

“Children deserve to walk, bike, and ride to school in safe conditions,” said Commander Lima.

These new programs promise many favorable outcomes. By installing red light and speed cameras, Warwick police officers will be able to put fewer resources into traffic violations and instead “focus on les

There is also the hope that these particular traffic violations will decrease and therefore save lives. In 2022, a study shows that cities with red light camera programs had a 21% reduction in fatal red light crashes. 

“People know the cameras are there, they drive differently, and eventually, those corrective actions become normal behavior” said Senior Vice President of Altumint Jason Norton.