Remember how I was talking about how Miami was getting red light cameras?  Well, as it turns out, red light cameras in nearby Tampa are the subject of some urban legends.

And no, sadly, it’s not something good like how the ghost of an angry motorist who hung himself after getting a traffic ticket he couldn’t afford on the day he was evicted from his apartment appears in camera photos every night at 12:14 when he hung himself–which admittedly would be an awesome movie (studios, if you want the script, call me!)–but rather, there’s some erroneous information going around about what the cameras will and won’t do.

One, the email claims that the cameras will go “active” and start issuing tickets “beginning in December”.  Technically, they’re accurate, but only just.  The “courtesy period” in which drivers are only issued notices rather than fines, expires December 29th.

The email further claims that “drivers will get a ticket if their front tires go over the fat white line on the street known as a stop bar.”  But Tampa authorities say that tickets won’t be issued unless a car goes all the way through an intersection on a red light.

Lastly, the email suggests that tickets will be given to people who don’t come to a complete stop before making right turns on a red light. But tickets will, as it turns out only be given if the driver is turning at more than 15 miles per hour.

Naturally, this is from the government, so take it with a grain of salt.  Remember, these are the same people who brought you “ketchup is a vegetable”.

Related posts:

1. Chicago’s Dubious Love Affair With The Traffic Cam
2. Watch Traffic With World Traffic Camera Lite
3. Traffic Camera Set On Fire In England
4. A Speed Camera Retrospective, With Help From The Washington Post
5. Barrington Not Installing Red Light Cameras