TWC Today Forums
Other => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mike M on May 31, 2009, 09:45:14 PM
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Kind of a silly question, but since traffic lights are different from state-to-state and city-to-city, I figured I'd post a topic to see how they are installed on your area.
Ours (in Lower Bucks) are mounted vertically, on mast-arm poles. Most of them were installed no earlier than the mid-late 90's, though there are still a few older ones hanging around here. Since 2000, newly installed signals have had LEDs on the red and green lights and eventually yellow, and in 2005 most of the existing signals had LEDs installed on them.
Here are a few examples:
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Ours here in the Baltimore area are also installed vertically on mast arms. Most of them are relatively recent, as in within the past decade, but there are also a good many that have probably been around 30 years or more. All of the newer lights are LED, whilst the older ones have not been updated. Most of the light casings are yellow, but an increasing number of them are black. I guess there's some reason behind that change, though whatever it is its certainly lost on me. :P
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The design in Toledo varies greatly. Toledo has a lot of standard lights. Toledo also has some weird, old looking traffic lights that were manufactured by 3M at some of the intersections in town.
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The traffic light in my area are mounted horizonal and sometimes vertical.
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In Moline, there are for basic sets of signals that they use.
All images are property of Google Maps
Signal Set 1: This composition is used generally on two lane streets. It is composed of two Eagle Alusigs.
Signal Set 2: This composition is an old setup. They are composed of two Eagle Flat Backs. This composition is used on older streets.
Signal Set 3: This composition is used in areas with a higher traffic. They are composed of Alusigs.
Signal Set 4: This composition is used mainly in newly installed signals. Composed of Alusigs.
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Wow Mike, I don't think your question is silly...in fact, it's great. :biggrin: I have been intersested in traffic lights ever since I was little and still am. :yes:
Here in the city of Dallas, the designs used to vary greatly (and still do somewhat), but now most of the lights are horizontal-mounted lights on mast-arms like in the picture below. (Picture is from Google.)
EDIT: As I went to school today, I realized that we still have a lot of vertically mounted lights on smaller poles with the turn signal on a separate pole. (See traffic light 2 picture below...Courtesy: Google Maps)
As for LED, all red and green lights have been replaced but most yellows have not. Does anyone know why this is? :dunno:
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As for LED, all red and green lights have been replaced but most yellows have not. Does anyone know why this is? :dunno:
They don't replace the yellow because it is not shown as often as the other lights.
Wow Mike, I don't think your question is silly...in fact, it's great. :biggrin: I have been intersested in traffic lights ever since I was little and still am. :yes:
I have always had an interest in traffic signals as well. You might want to check this site. It has a lot of interest facts regarding signals of any type... http://www.kbrhorse.net/signals/signals01.html (http://www.kbrhorse.net/signals/signals01.html)
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First and third pics are old sets of Eagle signals hanging on wires near Newtown, PA. These were replaced with modern mast-arm signals within a few months after this was taken (October 2004).
Second is another set of old signals from the 1970's, with metal plates. These still remain AFAIK, and have always been on flash because this is on an abandoned portion of PA Route 23.
Pictures courtesy of AARoads.
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Kind of a silly question, but since traffic lights are different from state-to-state and city-to-city, I figured I'd post a topic to see how they are installed on your area.
Ours (in Lower Bucks) are mounted vertically, on mast-arm poles. Most of them were installed no earlier than the mid-late 90's, though there are still a few older ones hanging around here. Since 2000, newly installed signals have had LEDs on the red and green lights and eventually yellow, and in 2005 most of the existing signals had LEDs installed on them.
Here are a few examples:
Ours here is SoMO are just like that...but we use a different typeface (Interstate Regular Condensed) on the green street signs. Attached is a sample of how they write things on those signs...the street name itself is all caps and the street type is sentence case.
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Those are actually older signs from when the lights were installed in 1997, the newer ones use a font that looks a lot like the font in TWC's logo. There are also signs that use Interstate.
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Those are actually older signs from when the lights were installed in 1997, the newer ones use a font that looks a lot like the font in TWC's logo. There are also signs that use Interstate.
Yeah, I noticed that as well.
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Those are actually older signs from when the lights were installed in 1997, the newer ones use a font that looks a lot like the font in TWC's logo. There are also signs that use Interstate.
The font in TWC's logo is Meta Medium...or it's dangerously close to that. So the font in your signs is probably Meta Medium or Meta Bold (which is more likely to be on a road signs for readability reasons).
Can you get a picture, in that case? I might know of one more font it might be...but I need a picture to confirm it.
EDIT: I see the second picture in the first post has a picture of that sign. Would you by chance have a higher-res version? If yes, PLEASE e-mail it to me! I see it is NOT Meta on those signs. I'm getting closer to deciding on that font I said it might be. It probably is.
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Here's the font they use now on the street signs. This is the highest quality I could find. It's not the same as the one in my first post; those are older. I pretty sure the signs on the second pic on my first post is Interstate.
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Just to let everyone know, I have updated my previous post to show another type of traffic light we have in the area. :yes: ;)
As for the street signs, most of ours are being updated from an Interstate font to Clearview (Thanks Raymie! ;)).
BTW, thank you for the link to that cool site, number1twcfan! :)
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This is what the traffic lights look like in Hillsborough County. They vary depending on what area in the county you're in. :wacko:
Pictures courtesy of www.aaroads.com (http://www.aaroads.com).
Southern Hillsborough
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida300/us-301_nb_at_boyette_rd.jpg (http://www.southeastroads.com/florida300/us-301_nb_at_boyette_rd.jpg)
Western Hillsborough
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida999/cleveland_st_eb_at_us-019a.jpg (http://www.southeastroads.com/florida999/cleveland_st_eb_at_us-019a.jpg)
Eastern Hillsborough
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida500/cr-579_sb_at_i-004_wb.jpg (http://www.southeastroads.com/florida500/cr-579_sb_at_i-004_wb.jpg)
Outside of Downtown Tampa
http://www.southeastroads.com/florida999/22nd_st_nb_at_hanna_av.jpg (http://www.southeastroads.com/florida999/22nd_st_nb_at_hanna_av.jpg)
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The Clearview typeface that is common on the newer signs had wormed its way into Arizona over the last couple of years.
Interstate is a knockoff of the original FHWA typefaces (which have a different weight system)
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Here are some pics from the Lansing area:
Picture 1: This kind of stoplight is becoming more and more common about the area, mainly at intersections that are barely busy enough to have a stoplight.
Picture 2: This is what the one-way intersections look like (at right). These are mainly on US-127 or downtown.
Pictures 3 & 4: This is how the majority of stoplights that are placed at two way/one way intersections.
Pictures 5-7: This is a new stoplight that was put up downtown some time over the winter (believe it or not, this was the first time I have been downtown near the capital since December, lol)
Picture 8: The silver-arm stoplight like the one featured here has been put up at busy intersections, and has become commonplace at them around the Lansing area.
Picture 9: Featured here is a stoplight that is at several intersections around the area, but is a little less common.
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Wow, those lighted signs are neat. When I was in the Harrisburg area back in March I saw a few street signs that were lighted like that. I didn't see any of those other signs lighted like what you posted, like the "One Way" and Left Turn Signal signs.
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It's funny you should mention lighted signs. They just started putting in a few last month, however, I've driven past them at night, and they weren't lit. :huh:
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Wow, I didn't realize those pictures were such massive files. No wonder they took so long to upload!
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Neat pics! Ill have to post some. Always been interested in traffic lights
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Wow, I thought I was the only one interested in them. Glad I posted this!
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Wow, I thought I was the only one interested in them. Glad I posted this!
hehe. I used to run my parents down with Traffic Lights when I was 3. :rofl2:
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You ran them over with stop lights? :blink:
>_>
<_<
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You ran them over with stop lights? :blink:
>_>
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:rofl2:
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You ran them over with stop lights? :blink:
>_>
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yes.... I did.
>_>
<_<
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Here's the font they use now on the street signs. This is the highest quality I could find. It's not the same as the one in my first post; those are older. I pretty sure the signs on the second pic on my first post is Interstate.
That font in that sign is most definitely Clearview. Missouri has NO Clearview AFAIK. At least from my place (West Plains) to Poplar Bluff (~2 1/2 hrs), to St. Louis (~4 hrs), and to Branson (~2 1/2 hrs). That's a pretty big area of Missouri.
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My hometown's traffic lights are installed horizontally and all of the traditional bulbs (except the fire signals near the fire stations) have been replaced with fluorescent bulbs. The lights along the SH-183 service road were LEDs, but they too have been replaced with fluorescent ones.
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My hometown's traffic lights are installed horizontally and all of the traditional bulbs (except the fire signals near the fire stations) have been replaced with fluorescent bulbs. The lights along the SH-183 service road were LEDs, but they too have been replaced with fluorescent ones.
What do the fluorescent bulbs look light? :dunno: (Because the LEDs are the ones that have dots, right? :unsure:)
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My hometown's traffic lights are installed horizontally and all of the traditional bulbs (except the fire signals near the fire stations) have been replaced with fluorescent bulbs. The lights along the SH-183 service road were LEDs, but they too have been replaced with fluorescent ones.
What do the fluorescent bulbs look light? :dunno: (Because the LEDs are the ones that have dots, right? :unsure:)
Let's put it like this, even with the color lenses, I recognize the circle and the coil behind it. These fluorescent bulbs are probably specially made to come on instantly instead of fading on.
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The Clearview typeface that is common on the newer signs had wormed its way into Arizona over the last couple of years.
Interstate is a knockoff of the original FHWA typefaces (which have a different weight system)
That much I knew. They go by letters from A to F.
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I have never seen horizontal traffic lights in Maricopa County. However, I have seen horizontal traffic lights in Coconino and Yavapai County.
I think most urban cities in Arizona use florescent bulbs for their streetlights. Phoenix has Clearview on all street signs and freeways. I think Paradise Valley does not. Scottsdale has upgraded to lighted street signs which Phoenix had for a while. Those do have Clearview. The ones that have not and will not be upgraded apparently do not. All the highways in the Valley do. There's a lot of construction going on in the Valley so when they finish construction they upgrade the signs.
Here are some pics. (http://yfrog.com/5ktatumpx)
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Here is what the emergency signals look like here. These are only installed near fire stations that are located off a major road, like where this one was taken (PA 132/Street Road). These lights just flash yellow when there's no activity. When these turn red, there's also white lights that flicker on top of the lens (these are also seen in areas where there are a lot of traffic lights close together, like on Rockhill Drive at the US 1 ramps).
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Here is what the emergency signals look like here. These are only installed near fire stations that are located off a major road, like where this one was taken (PA 132/Street Road). These lights just flash yellow when there's no activity. When these turn red, there's also white lights that flicker on top of the lens (these are also seen in areas where there are a lot of traffic lights close together, like on Rockhill Drive at the US 1 ramps).
If they, from what you described, produce only two colors. I wonder why they still have the green light. :thinking:
The fire signals in Moline, the few I have seen anyway, are composed of a red lens and a white reflector. They only activate when signaled by the fire department.
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Here are some more pics of stoplights in the area.
Picture 1: There are only a few of these in the area, and all of them are on either side of the city (western side of Lansing, Okemos- where this pic was taken, Haslett) 8
Picture 2: Only a couple of these exist that I know of, that have yellow and not black casing. 13
Picture 3: Another stoplight right at US-127, just north of the major cloverleaf intersection with I-96. 17
Picture 4: Another stoplight on Pennsylvania Avenue just 3 miles down the road from my house. 20
Here are some more pics of stoplights in Howell going down M-59:
Picture 5: This stoplight has only been around for a couple years, as this intersection was heavily under construction in 2006-2008. This intersection is immediatly north of I-96. 41
Pictures 6-7: Here is an interesting stoplight. Notice the one on the right, and the appearance of the light. Only one of these exists in the Lansing area. 44, 48
Picture 8: Another one-way stoplight, on the north side of the Howell area 46
Pictures 9-10: This type of stoplight has been placed at several intersections of late in the Lansing area, mainly on the east side. 54 and 55
Picture 11: Another stoplight east of Howell. 58
Picture 12: This stoplight is at the US-23/M-59 Intersection a few miles up from Detroit itself. This is evidently a normally busy intersection. 62
Pictures 13-14: I thought this stoplight literally mounted "on" US-23 was a bit interesting. 64 67 79 81 83
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If they, from what you described, produce only two colors. I wonder why they still have the green light. :thinking:
The fire signals in Moline, the few I have seen anyway, are composed of a red lens and a white reflector. They only activate when signaled by the fire department.
The bottom lights are flashing yellow lights, they're not green. It's hard to see them unless you're right in front of it because it has that grid on top of the lens. The middle lights are also yellow but they are bigger, and don't flash.
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OK, here's a picture of the traffic light from my area.
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OK, here's a picture of the traffic light from my area.
Ah yes, Texas. I was there last August. They have the worst transportation set-up I've ever seen. And I've been to a lot of states!
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OK, here's a picture of the traffic light from my area.
Ah yes, Texas. I was there last August. They have the worst transportation set-up I've ever seen. And I've been to a lot of states!
How so? :thinking: I'll admit that some of the roads here are frequently jammed, but I didn't think Texas had the worst transportation set-up. :whistling:
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This is what the emergency signals at the Temple Terrace Fire Department look like. :thumbsup:
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OK, here's a picture of the traffic light from my area.
Ah yes, Texas. I was there last August. They have the worst transportation set-up I've ever seen. And I've been to a lot of states!
How so? :thinking: I'll admit that some of the roads here are frequently jammed, but I didn't think Texas had the worst transportation set-up. :whistling:
I'm not talking traffic, just how everything is configured.
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These are the traffic signals up in Scranton, PA as of last summer. Pretty much the same as they are here except without the black plates. Red left-arrow signals are much more common up there than here.
If you look closely on the third picture, you can see the logo and building of Roland's favorite news station. :P (my hotel was located right next to the station)
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Is this a red light camera installed on this traffic light (between the first light and no turn on red sign)? This is a new set installed within the past few months. Sorry it's hard to see, caught it with my camera phone.
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Is this a red light camera installed on this traffic light (between the first light and no turn on red sign)? This is a new set installed within the past few months. Sorry it's hard to see, caught it with my camera phone.
That's a motion detector sensor to detect traffic so that the light changes properly. I've seen those in my area, too.
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Is this a red light camera installed on this traffic light (between the first light and no turn on red sign)? This is a new set installed within the past few months. Sorry it's hard to see, caught it with my camera phone.
That's a motion detector sensor to detect traffic so that the light changes properly. I've seen those in my area, too.
Yes, Patrick is right. :) Red light cameras are usually much bigger and may not even be on the traffic light itself. I wish they had these sensors on every traffic light, though, as some lights take so long to change.
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Is this a red light camera installed on this traffic light (between the first light and no turn on red sign)? This is a new set installed within the past few months. Sorry it's hard to see, caught it with my camera phone.
That's a motion detector sensor to detect traffic so that the light changes properly. I've seen those in my area, too.
Yes, Patrick is right. :) Red light cameras are usually much bigger and may not even be on the traffic light itself. I wish they had these sensors on every traffic light, though, as some lights take so long to change.
Andy, most traffic lights are just set to a timer, so they aren't always efficient. Furthermore, have you seen a traffic light where a line flashes at you from within the red light when it's on? That's a traffic camera looking for people running the red light as I've seen them in places, so don't think that all traffic cameras are big.
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Almost all the lights here have a sensor, though it usually just has the sensor underneath the road surface and not on the pole.
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I had one of those darn cameras take my picture the other night. IDK why. The light was red, and I stopped and proceeded to turn right when all the sudden *FLASH*. Also note that it IS legal to turn right when it's red at this intersection. I'm fricken worried.........
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Hmm, maybe it thought you were going straight so it took your picture :/
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Well for now, all you can do is wait and see. If you do indeed get a ticket, there's no reason you can't take it to court.
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Andy...have you seen a traffic light where a line flashes at you from within the red light when it's on? That's a traffic camera looking for people running the red light as I've seen them in places, so don't think that all traffic cameras are big.
No, I haven't seen that Patrick. :no: But I have seen a big camera that is on a separate post from the traffic light flash when someone ran the red light. ;)
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No, I haven't seen that Patrick. :no: But I have seen a big camera that is on a separate post from the traffic light flash when someone ran the red light. ;)
Yep, I've seen those. A lot of the intersections along the Roosevelt Blvd in Northeast Philly have those cameras, and I think there are a few downtown as well. I think New Jersey was thinking about installing these too, but I haven't heard anything about that in awhile.
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Interesting story....
http://consumerist.com/2009/12/power-saving-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow-cause-accident.html (http://consumerist.com/2009/12/power-saving-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow-cause-accident.html)
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Interesting story....
[url]http://consumerist.com/2009/12/power-saving-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow-cause-accident.html[/url] ([url]http://consumerist.com/2009/12/power-saving-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow-cause-accident.html[/url])
Yep I read that and its quite interesting.
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Sorry to bump, but I haven't really posted any traffic lights seen here in NJ, so here are some pics I took last month.
Pictures 1-3 are sets typically seen at divided highways, such as the Garden State Parkway, and NJ highway 70 and 73.
Picture 4 is a set seen at a four-lane highway without a divider.
Picture 5 is an example of a 3M signal. These are seen typically at intersections that are very close to each other, or intersections where 3 or more roads intersect (to avoid confusion for motorists).
Picture 6 is a set seen at typical one-lane roads.
Picture 7 is a temporary set of lights hanging on wire. This is at the scene at the former Route 70/73 circle, where an overpass over NJ 70 is currently being built to significantly ease traffic in this congested area. The roundabout was closed off to traffic last Spring, and the picture here is the temporary 4-way intersection that is used until construction on the overpass nearby is complete in late 2011.
(http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1926/hpim0705z.th.jpg) (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/hpim0705z.jpg/)
(http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1065/hpim0706.th.jpg) (http://img375.imageshack.us/i/hpim0706.jpg/)
(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/2420/hpim0704.th.jpg) (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/hpim0704.jpg/)
(http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9084/hpim0709.th.jpg) (http://img64.imageshack.us/i/hpim0709.jpg/)
(http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/4858/hpim0707n.th.jpg) (http://img709.imageshack.us/i/hpim0707n.jpg/)
(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/7692/hpim0708r.th.jpg) (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/hpim0708r.jpg/)
(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/6897/hpim0703.th.jpg) (http://img837.imageshack.us/i/hpim0703.jpg/)
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Is this a red light camera installed on this traffic light (between the first light and no turn on red sign)? This is a new set installed within the past few months. Sorry it's hard to see, caught it with my camera phone.
That's a motion detector sensor to detect traffic so that the light changes properly. I've seen those in my area, too.
The pic is corrupted but by chance is it a little black sensor? If so its actually an RF receiver for emergency vehicles to change the lights faster.
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Just FYI cameras like these are not red light cameras. Only traffic monitoring cameras.
(http://www.carinsuranceguidebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/red-light-camera.jpg)
Here is what we have in our area. These are red light cameras. If its a huge box, its a red light camera! haha
(http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files/images/349381000.jpg)
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Just FYI cameras like these are not red light cameras. Only traffic monitoring cameras.
([url]http://www.carinsuranceguidebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/red-light-camera.jpg[/url])
Here is what we have in our area. These are red light cameras. If its a huge box, its a red light camera! haha
([url]http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files/images/349381000.jpg[/url])
Do I see Smokey Bones in the background, to the left? :bleh:
Anyways, we only have the traffic monitoring cameras here. None of those ones in the boxes, and all traffic control is provided by Federal Signal as far as I know (for my area).