17,000 New Jersey Drivers Avoid Traffic Tickets
Computer glitch kept the tickest from being sent out.
— -- Some 17,000 drivers in New Jersey will not have to pay tickets for running red lights and other traffic violations after the company that operates the state's traffic cameras accidentally failed to send them out on time.
American Traffic Solutions, one of several companies that operate traffic cameras in New Jersey, attributed the accident to a computer glitch, according to company spokesman Charles Territo.
Between May 28 and June 30 a problem with American Traffic Solution's servers prevented New Jersey drivers from receiving notices for traffic violations that occurred and were in progress, the spokesman said.
According to New Jersey state law, tickets that have not been served within 90 days of a violation must be voided, Territo said.
State officials were notified of the glitch on Aug. 10, according to Winnie Comfort,woman for the New Jersey judiciary.
"To their credit, they let us know that there was a problem so we could get right on it," she said.
August's computer glitch is the latest in a series of missteps that have called into question companies that operate traffic cameras.
"These companies incessantly tout the supposed accuracy and consistency of their systems," New Jersey Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon wrote to The Associated Press in an email, "when the only thing consistent about the camera company representatives is their blatant misrepresentation of what the equipment does and how accurately it does it."
New Jersey adopted its red-light camera program in 2009. In 2012 the state suspended its program after discovering that 63 of the system's cameras were not tested for accurately timing yellow traffic lights.
In 2013, American Traffic Solutions reached a $4.2 million settlement with 500,000 New Jersey drivers for not giving drivers enough time to brake at yellow lights.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.