Red-light cams = 1,600 citations

Looks like Houston's red-light camera system has been busy: In the month since the cameras went into operation, they've issued more than 1,600 citations. According to the Chronicle, the cameras at nine locations caught 1,985 vehicles running lights between Sept. 1 and Oct. 6; the 10th location, JFK and Greens, was having technical difficulties.

The numbers mean the officers who review the cases approved more than 80 percent of them for citations, which is an increase from the first week of operation, when a third of images were thrown outt. But one thing hasn't changed: Most of the images that didn't result in citations were of vehicles that didn't stop before making a right turn on red; as we noted before, the wording of the city ordinance governing the cameras doesn't allow the city to ticket people who do that, even though it's against the law.

American Traffic Solutions, the company responsible for the city's camera system, is installing cameras at 10 more intersections, and they'll be ready for action early next month.

(By the way, if you're looking for an end-of-the-week boost, check out KHOU's video of a near-accident at Richmond and Dunvale caught by one of the red-light cams there.)