Citations spike in 2016 at city of Allen’s only red-light-camera intersection

Cameras at the intersection of Alma and McDermott drives have caught more motorists trying to beat the traffic light this year, a trend the police department attributes to increased traffic from a US 75 construction project.

The city of Allen issued 1,424 red-light-camera citations at the intersection from January through October—an increase of 25 percent over the next-highest yearly mark in 2012 and 31 percent higher than last year’s total.

The city collected $81,099 in revenue through October from red-light-camera citations, another high mark with two months remaining in the year.

The police department had predicted a rise in traffic volume this year at the intersection, as motorists were expected to increasingly avoid US 75 because of an ongoing construction project, city of Allen spokesperson Teresa Warren said.

The Allen City Council approved a contract in 2007 to study up to 20 locations in Allen for inclusion in the red-light-camera program.

The intersection of Alma and McDermott was the only location outfitted with red-light cameras, which were installed in 2008.

There have been no vehicle collisions at the intersection since the city installed the red-light cameras, police Deputy Chief Johnny Thomason said. The police department does not know how many collisions occurred there before the city installed the cameras, Warren said.