MphsMark is on the right track. There are good formulas to time BOTH the yellow intervals to allow enough time for people to stop, and the all-red intervals to clear the intersections before cross traffic can arrive. The key is to time the lights for the ACTUAL speeds of traffic, NOT for a posted speed limit arbitrarily set way below the actual traffic speeds. If these formulas are followed properly, there will not be enough straight through violations for the fines to even pay the basic costs of operating the cameras, let alone make any real profits. Unfortunately, engineering for maximum safety is not profitable, so many cities prefer to deliberately mis-engineer their lights, deliberately cause more red violations that would not happen with proper engineering, put up cameras, and "pick the pockets" of hundreds of safe drivers. See our website for the science and maybe you will join us to help get red light camera cash registers banned in every state, as they are in many states already. James C. Walker, National Motorists Association, www.motorists.org, Ann Arbor, MI

Think about this for a minute-- If public safety was the REAL goal, then why not program a 3 second delay before the opposing light turns green? That would allow the intersection to clear before traffic resumes. All red light cameras do is either make people speed up to get through the intersection, or slam on the brakes in an attempt to stop in time- both to avoid the fine imposed by the camera. No.. the truth of the matter is all the municipalities are really interested in is more revenue. Period. Anyone who says different is lying.. but then, they ARE politicians.