9 DC stop-sign cameras issue more than 53K tickets, $2.6 million in fines

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Stop-sign cameras in the nation's capital have issued more than 53,000 citations to drivers for a total of $2.6 million in fines this fiscal year, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The cameras in D.C. are used to capture drivers who roll through or fail to come to a complete stop signs at nine intersections. The fine for this violation is $50.

The District first deployed stop-sign cameras in Aug. 2013 and became the first major city in the country to do so.

The amount of tickets and fines issued in 2018 is a dramatic increase compared to five years ago. AAA Mid-Atlantic says the stop-sign cameras only caught 6,863 drivers while collecting only $288,461 in revenue from the fines during the first phase of deployment.

The city's Chief Financial Officer cited delayed implementation and glitches for the low number of citations and revenue during the first few years after the stop-sign cameras were deployed.

"Although such violations are far too common, stop sign-running incidents can prove fatal in intersections with stop signs in place, especially when one driver, or more, fail to obey a traffic control device," said John Townsend II of AAA Mid-Atlantic. "Stop means stop! Yet, 'two-thirds of stop sign crashes occurred when drivers actually stopped for the sign, but failed to yield to oncoming traffic.' Drivers can miss seeing stop signs, pedestrians, and other vehicles for a host of reasons, including distractions, pitch darkness, diminished traffic sign conspicuity, glare, or trees. To save lives and avoid tickets, simply observe the 'three-second rule' or 'two-second rule' at all stop signs."

Townsend says drivers should follow a two to three-second rule when they encounter these cameras and make sure to completely stop at the intersection for that length of time before moving on.

Here are the current stop-sign camera locations in D.C.: