Medford Police Announce New Red Light and Speed Camera
Published on July 20, 2023
The Medford Police Department is dedicated to traffic safety for those driving on our city roadways. One of the methods that they use to improve traffic safety is their fixed-site photo red light and speed cameras. MPD's photo radar program is well-established and has been in operation since 2004. Currently there are four intersections in the city that have photo radar installed: E. Barnett Rd./Stewart Ave., E. McAndrews Rd./Biddle Rd., Riverside Ave./8th St., and Central Ave./4th St.
The public may start seeing construction for the installation of photo red light cameras at the intersection of Crater Lake Hwy./Delta Waters Rd. starting on Monday, July 24. The system for this intersection should be operational and begin capturing violations on Monday, August 21. In order to make sure that the public has plenty of time to adjust to the system as well as improve communications, there will be an educational period in which MPD will send warning letters to those seen committing violations at this intersection. This intersection will monitor both speed infractions and red-light infractions from multiple different approaches.
The educational/warning period will start on Monday, August 21 and last for 30 days. Actual citations will start being issued on Wednesday, September 20.
MPD recognizes that the use of photo radar at intersections comes with mixed feelings in the community and they do not take that lightly. In 2022 when they conducted a survey, they found that 74% of the public surveyed reported that the photo radar program was rated as “very good to satisfactory” and that the vast majority of people believed that it improved traffic safety. They agree with the public and have seen a downward trend in crashes at photo enforced intersections as well as nearby intersections.
“This ‘spillover effect’ is a major reason for us choosing the intersection of Crater Lake Highway and Delta Waters Road,” said Lieutenant Geoff Kirkpatrick. "The most dangerous intersection in the city is consistently identified at Crater Lake Highway and Poplar Drive, but for various reasons we could not install photo radar cameras at that intersection. We believe that by enforcing speed and red-light violations at nearby intersections we can affect traffic safety at the intersection that needs it most.”
Speed continues to be the biggest factor in serious vehicle crashes throughout the nation. MPD has seen a correlation between speed enforcement and the number of serious traffic crashes that are reported to them. Their ability to use technology to facilitate speed and red-light enforcement is a force multiplier when it comes to traffic safety. In fact, this was one of the recommendations that came from their 2022 Level-of-Service study conducted by the Center for Public Safety Management.
The safety of you and your loved ones is paramount to MPD, and they want to continue to provide high-quality and effective law enforcement services to those living, working and playing in our community.