One of the busiest intersections in Bradenton is about to get another set of eyes to watch driver behavior.
Currently there are eight red light traffic cameras in use on Manatee County's roads, and per the county's contract with Camera Manufacturer, Xerox, two more need to be installed.
Sergeant Mike Kenyan with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office has been charged with determining the sites for the future cameras.
He has selected the southbound approach of U.S. 41 at Cortez Road and the eastbound approach of Cortez Road at 26th St W. as the new sites. Additionally, a third camera, above contract specs is expected in the intersection of State Road 70 and U.S. 41.
Work to install the cameras is expected to complete in the next two months, however, once installed, drivers will have a 30 day grace period while the county begins a process to inform the public of camera locations.
As in other municipalities, the number of citations issued by red light cameras has dropped since the program was started, sending a message to the sheriff's office that the cameras are working. They have changed driver behavior.
None of the cameras will monitor the right turn on red function of drivers. This was a major point of contention for drivers in St. Petersburg before those cameras were removed by Mayor Rick Kriseman.
Sgt. Kenyan said, unless he can show crash data proving the number of right turn on red crashes warrants surveillance of the movement, county cameras will only focus on red light running through the intersection.