The Belmar governing body is mulling whether or not to apply to have red-light cameras installed at various spots along Route 35.

Last week at their work session meeting, a representative from a red-light camera company presented the council and mayor his findings of a test-run already conducted in the borough, as well as the benefits of such a system and how it would work.

Belmar Police Chief Thomas Palmisano, who spoke openly regarding his support for the cameras as not only a means for catching violators but also as a tool for documenting traffic accidents, said a test camera at Route 35 and 10th Avenue witnessed 84 violations in a 10-hour period.

Council President Claire Deicke said that modifying driver behavior was the main goal of the cameras.

"That will certainly give everyone the idea that, you know, that they're being watched. That might sound strange, but I think that's the key," Deicke said.

The cameras take two photos and a 12-second video of the violation, said Charles Callari, VP of American Traffic Solutions, based in Scottsdale, Ariz. But the video recorded by red-light cameras has also assisted other police forces with accident investigations, Palmisano said.

"There are a lot of close calls and there's not enough manpower to put someone there all hours of the day and night," Palmisano said. "We like the idea that if the intersection (has a camera) and we get there on an accident call, we can listen to what both drivers say but the camera doesn't lie."

Private companies provide, operate and monitor the red-light cameras, Callari said.

After a suspected violation is documented, company representatives review the photos and video footage, and if they believe a violation did occur, the evidence is forwarded to that muncipality's police department for another review before a ticket is issued, Callari said. 

Since the evidence gets reviewed by two sets of eyes, drivers who accidently go over the stop lines at an intersection or get stuck in the middle while making a left turn as the light turns red would not be issued tickets, Callari said.

The cameras would come at no charge to the borough, either, Callari said.

Each fine is for $85, and at least $56 of that goes directly to the municipality. Callari said. There are no insurance points included in the fine, he added.

The county would stand to make $27.50 on each violation, but only if they participated in the program, Callari said. If the county did not participate, Belmar could be looking at roughly $75 per violation.

But of course not everything is free. Callari said his company typically takes 15 to 20 percent of the gross from ticket revenues to pay itself for the service.

In Brick, where ATS already has cameras, the company pulled in $300,000 in 2011, Callari said.

Callari added that since cameras have been installed in Brick, red-light violations have been cut nearly in half.

If Belmar decides to move forward with the program, they would first have to apply for permission from the state Department of Transportation.

Then, if approved, the borough would enter into a five-year pilot program, and after that period the DOT would decide whether or not an extension was merited.

Although ATS conducted the test-run, the borough would still go out to bid for the cameras.

Palmisano said he recommended cameras at Route 35 and Eighth Avenue, Route 35 and 10th Avenue, and Route 71 and Route 35.

Several members of the public, however, spoke out against the idea of red-light cameras in the borough.

"You're not going to change people's behavior," Tom Dilberger, of River Road, said.

Dilberger added that the cameras were just the first step toward a total invasion of privacy by the government.

"There's no end to it," Dilberger said. "Please don't approve this."

David Schneck, of C Street, said he was concerned the borough would be subjected to lawsuits if it ever decided to terminate its contract with a red-light camera company.

Schneck held up pages from, what he said, were several stories regarding lawsuits filed by ATS against municipalities across the country.

Callari said that if Belmar decided to opt-out, and if ATS was their red-light camera contractor, the company would honor that decision.

Schneck also said that he was concerned more accidents would happen from drivers stopping short to avoid being ticketed.

Callari said that overall more fender benders do occur, but he added that evidence shows red-light cameras help cut down on serious "t-bone" and right-angle accidents.