PHOTOSafe Red Light Enforcement

RED Means Stop! Chesapeake’s red light photo enforcement program is titled PHOTOSafe. Our city’s goal is to simply gain compliance with traffic signals which will significantly contribute to public safety in Chesapeake. The camera systems are a force multiplier for the uniformed police officer and they reduce the risks involved in the red light violation enforcement of large intersections.

The key to the program’s success is public knowledge of the systems and the assurance that if you run a red light, your vehicle will be photographed and you will receive a civil penalty for the violation. Therefore, the locations of monitored intersections will be highly publicized as they become active. Information on the Virginia law governing the photo-monitoring systems to enforce traffic light signals can be found under the Code of Virginia section 15.2-968.1.

The following information is provided for assistance:

To speak to a representative about a red light camera violation contact, the Redflex Customer Contact Center at 1-877-847-2338. (To expedite our service to you, please have your Citation Number ready when you call.)

The PHOTOSafe office is located at Police Head Quarters, at 304 Albemarle Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23322.

The address to the PHOTOSafe Payment Center is:

PHOTOSafe Chesapeake
Payment Center
P.O. Box 16495
Chesapeake, VA 23328-6495

To view the violation video evidence online or to pay a violation by credit card, visit www.photonotice.com and enter the following information: Your citation number (example: PSCP00000000), vehicle license plate number (no dashes), and City Code: CHSPVA.

For additional information about Chesapeake's PHOTOSafe Program or to arrange a PHOTOSafe presentation, contact the program coordinator at 757-382-6942.

All payments must be sent to the above listed payment center. The City of Chesapeake does not accept payments at any city location.

Why do we need this?

Stopping red light running will significantly contribute to public safety in Chesapeake.

The camera systems are a force multiplier for the uniformed police officer and they reduce the risks involved in the red light running violation enforcement of large intersections.

The Keys To Success…

Public knowledge of the systems
- How do they work?
Public awareness of the systems
- Where are they located?
Public assurance of the systems
- Will it stop red light running?

How Does It Work?

The PHOTOSafe program is designed to reduce the number of violations by automatically capturing evidence of vehicles whose drivers violate the law. Photo enforced signs are located within 500 feet of the intersection in an effort to remind drivers to comply with the traffic signal. The enforcement cameras are only active during the red cycle of the traffic light. Vehicles that enter the intersection after the light has turned red for .5 or ½ second are captured. The camera system is wired to the traffic lights and to sensors that are buried in the lanes of the roadway surface. Vehicles that cross the sensors after the light has turned red activate the system. The violating vehicle is photographed 3 times and a 12 second video of the violation captures the vehicle in motion. The first photo is taken at the stop bar as evidence to show that the light was red prior to the vehicle entering the intersection; the second photo is the vehicle’s license plate for identification purposes; the third photo is taken to show evidence of the vehicle proceeding through the intersection while the light is still red. The photographed documentation of the red light violation is evidence for the police department to issue a civil penalty to the owner of the vehicle.

Diagram of PHOTOSafe camera setup
Chesapeake Police Department PHOTOSafe Program Diagram

The diagram above is a representation of the PHOTOSafe camera systems used in the City of Chesapeake. This picture illustrates a single intersection approach with three vehicles in violation of the traffic signal. Each system contains multiple cameras that can capture multiple lane violations occurring at the same time. Drivers are reminded that our systems do capture right turn on red violations.

How Can I Learn More?

The primary focus of the PHOTOSafe program is public awareness and education. The success of the program is measured in the reduction of red light running and not by the number of vehicles caught violating the law. Please review the information below. If you have other questions or would like schedule a detailed PowerPoint presentation for your organization, contact the PHOTOSafe Program Coordinator, Officer M. D. Lawrence, by email at photosafechesapeake@cityofchesapeake.net.