Red Light Cameras—Part I: A Story of Hidden Taxes

Gloucester Township Council has passed a budget with zero increase, a fact that was proudly heralded at Council meeting on April 14, 2012. While the mayor, Township Council, and other township officials are busy slapping each other on the back over our most recent budget, I wonder if we can pause a minute while I make a point about whether taxes are really going up or down.

First, I commend our leadership for achieving this goal but while Mr. Mayer is taking pride in the fact that, on average, municipal taxes were increasing 5 ¢ per hundred of assessed value and that he and Council put a hold on that, they choose to ignore the hidden tax that Gloucester Township residents are paying. In fact, when I brought this point up in Council meeting I had to check to make sure everyone was awake. To say my comment evoked no response from the town’s leadership would be an understatement.

What is this hidden tax? The Trulia website page entitled “Gloucester Township Real Estate Overview” reveals the median sales price for February 2012 through April 2012 in the 08012 zip code area was $153,000. A 5 ¢ per $100 tax increase on that home would increase one’s municipal taxes by $76.50. Contrast that to the hidden tax of $85 per incident for turning right too soon at a red light.

On April 14, 2012, I pointed out to Council that I believe a significant number of residents are tired of the hidden tax being imposed upon us by the red-light traffic cameras. Contrast all the smiles going around because municipal taxes weren’t raised by Council in the coming year by $76.50 against your disdain at receiving a red-light camera ticket; not for blowing a red light, but for failing to come to a complete stop for some unknown amount of time before proceeding to turn right. So, the hidden tax you got clobbered with set you back $85...this time. Add to that the fact that the township is only getting a portion of that and understand that we are enriching some out-of-town company for coming in and participating in the policing of our every move. License-plate scanners are all the rage now and can facial recognition cameras be far behind?

Initially, information was published informing all those concerned about the $85 tickets not to worry because statistics showed that our neighbors weren’t getting the tickets. Rather, non-locals were bearing the brunt of the fines, we were told. That should have made us all feel good. Unfortunately someone was asleep at the wheel. The out-of-town red-light camera operators did not understand the nuances between Gloucester City, whose residents we were informed were paying the lion’s share of the fines, and Gloucester Township, whose residents are really paying all the fines. In fact, drivers from Blackwood proper, the area closest to the red-light cameras, topped the list of those paying the fines. So, another perk of living in Blackwood, along with center city going to pot and Blackwood Clementon Road not far behind, is the hidden tax for “turning-right-too-quickly-on-red.” Did somebody say the township held the line on my taxes? You could have fooled me!

Additionally, there was talk at the township meeting about the Blackwood Clementon Road Business Improvement Project. Who, may I ask, might be interested in coming into Gloucester Township to shop Blackwood Clementon Road and then have to run the gauntlet of ten red-light cameras?

As I write I’m receiving breaking news that will interest all those who share my concerns over red-light cameras. Stay tuned for "Red Light Cameras—Part II: A Story of Illegality Versus Liberty."