BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ – According to Brick Township Republicans who controlled the township a decade ago, if you don’t run a red light, you won’t get a ticket. That was a statement made by former Republican Councilman Domenic Brando when the Brick Township Council and Mayor, then controlled by Republicans launched one of the town’s most controversial laws.
Red Light Cameras popped up all over the township and fined residents millions of dollars by sending them automatic tickets.
The controversy began when people began getting tickets for being in the intersection of a yellow light when the light turned red. In 2014, Democrat Mayor John Ducey eradicated the red light cameras after his team wrangled control from the Republicans that had mismanaged the community for years.
Ducey’s decision cost the town about a million dollars per year, but residents praised the decision that allowed him to continue winning elections and keeping his team in power.
This year, Ducey is a judge and the town is currently being run by his political ally Lisa Crate.
Republicans are hoping to capitalize on Ducey’s absence, led by former Brick GOP President John Catalano. Catalano served as the party’s president while those lights were rolled out in Brick.
Now, residents are worried, if Catalano and the Republicans return, can the red light cameras return?
It’s a question residents should be asking as the Republicans championed those lights and even defended them against criticism from the public.
Ducey and the Democrats led the way for the dismantling of the state’s red light camera program. At the time, Ducey said the roughly million-dollar annual revenue from the lights was not worth the burdens it placed on the residents.
While the state program has ended, cities across America continue to use American Traffic Solutions’ red light camera and it could be possible that Republicans will explore new avenues of revenue as inflation, interest rates and cost of goods continue to rise.