Council hears first reading for ordinance to allow photo enforcement at red lights; staff to complete engineering study

Winchester City Council on March 25 held first reading of an ordinance to allow photo-monitoring systems to enforce red-light violations at signals.

Deputy City Manager for Public Health and Safety John Piper outlined the proposal and the statutory framework: Virginia code permits localities to adopt civil enforcement of red-light running through camera systems connected directly to traffic signals. The system would take a series of photographs when a vehicle is detected passing through a red light; each case would be reviewed by a Winchester Police Department officer before a civil penalty is issued. The proposed civil penalty is $50, and…