Red Light Cameras

Yes. National estimates show that more than 9,000 crashes are caused annually by drivers who run red lights. These crashes tend to be more severe as they are usually right angle crashes (T-bone) which are much more likely to cause serious injury. Red light cameras have been shown to substantially decrease the severity of traffic crashes at intersections where traffic enforcement cameras are installed. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has additional information on this subject.

Police cannot be everywhere at one time. Communities do not have the resources to allow police to patrol intersections and roadways as often as needed to ticket all motorists who run red lights. Red light cameras help keep our roads safer and allow Hannibal police officers spend their time protecting citizens in other ways.

Photo red light enforcement has been used in the United Stated for more than 15 years. Systems are used in more than 160 communities in 25 states across the U.S.

Hannibal currently has red light cameras installed at the following intersections: US 61/Hwy 168 and Diamond Blvd, US 61/West Ely Rd and Pleasant St, US 61/Market St and Paris Gravel Rd Plans are underway to install cameras at the US 61/ Rt. MM and James Rd intersection as well.

Yes. Signs are posted at each intersection warning drivers that photo enforcement is in use.

Red light cameras constantly monitor the intersections where they are installed. The camera triggers when a vehicle crosses the stop bar into the intersection after the light has turned red. The camera records the date, time, the time elapsed under red, the vehicle speed, images before and after the violation occurred, the license plate, and the driver's face. The cameras will not trigger if the intersection was entered on a yellow light.

The data is downloaded to the Hannibal Police Department where a sworn Hannibal Police Officer views all photographs and videos from the violation. If the officer determines that a violation did occur, the violation is then approved by that officer to issue a citation. The citation is then issued and mailed.

The citation will list all the information gathered from the recorded violation including 4 photographs. Information will also be given where the registered owner can view the video of the violation online.

Included along with the citation are forms to use to choose one of the 3 options:

You can choose to pay the violation. You can nominate the actual driver, or inform us if your vehicle was sold or stolen. You can request a court hearing.

If you contend that you are not the driver shown in the attached photographs, you must fill out the attached affidavit in full and return it in the enclosed envelope to the Hannibal Police Department, P.O. Box 793, Hannibal, MO 63401, within 20 days of the date of the notice.  If you fail to return the affidavit, and fail to appear at the scheduled hearing date, a warrant may be issued for your arrest, and your license may be suspended.  Please note that if you fail to fill the affidavit out in full and send it back within the time limits listed, the matter will not be removed from the trial docket, and if you further fail to appear at the scheduled hearing date, a warrant may be issued for your arrest, and your license may be suspended.   If you have filled out the affidavit and sent it in, you must verify with the court clerks that the matter has been removed from the docket.

The Municipal Judge has set the fine at $94.00 for red light running. If you do not pay your fine, or respond to the citation with a nomination or stolen/sold information by the due date on the citation, your fine will be assessed court costs and a court date will be issued. If you fail to respond to the court summons, you may be issued a Fail to Appear Warrant for your arrest.

Due to recent Missouri court decisions which have verified that Red Light Camera Violations are in fact a moving violation, Red Light Camera tickets will be treated as a standard Run Red Light violation. The offence is reported to Missouri Department of Revenue and points will be assessed. This change will take affect November 13, 2013.