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Residents urge pause, police say cameras are reducing accidents at two Warrington intersections
Summary
At a June 24 board meeting residents criticized automated red‑light enforcement at Bristol Road and Route 611, asking the township to pause enforcement until auxiliary turn lanes and other safety changes are made. Sergeant Ken Hawthorne said warnings preceded violations, the system is open to public review and early data show a decline in accidents.
Residents who live near two automated enforcement sites in Warrington urged supervisors on June 24 to put at least one enforcement location on hold until infrastructure changes reduce congestion.
"It is setting a bad tone for our township," said Jen Fielding of 600 Valley Road, who spoke during public comment. She told the board the right‑on‑red restriction at Bristol Road and Route 611, without auxiliary turn lanes, causes backups that can make drivers take three signals and add "up to 12 to 15 minutes" to trips. Fielding also raised concerns about bright camera flashes and missing pedestrian‑crossing signals at another intersection.
Sergeant Ken Hawthorne, the police department’s ARLI project manager, defended the automated‑enforcement program and said the township worked with PennDOT on permits, signage and signalization. He said the system ran a 60‑day warning period and is now issuing violations; residents can view images and video online and may contest notices. "When if a violation is received by a resident and we're past the warning phase ... they can go online and they get the same information that we get at the township," Hawthorne said.
Hawthorne told the board the department’s preliminary six‑month comparison shows fewer accidents at the two intersections since the program began, but he called that "anecdotal evidence" because the period is short. He said roughly 80% of warnings and violations involve visitors rather than township residents and that the camera vendor owns and maintains the equipment. He also offered the program’s contact email (arlie@warrentonpd.org) and said staff will pursue adjustments to flash intensity and other operational concerns.
Supporters of enforcement, including residents who said they saw immediate improvements after focused police patrols, urged a combination of enforcement, engineering changes and grant applications to fund crosswalk improvements. Resident Dave of Legacy Oaks offered to volunteer for pedestrian monitoring and pointed to LED crosswalk technology used in nearby towns as a possible capital project.
The board did not take a formal vote on pausing enforcement; supervisors and staff said they would continue to coordinate with PennDOT, the camera vendor and the police department, respond to specific maintenance complaints and consider grant funding for lighting and crosswalk improvements.
