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Revenue from red-light cameras in France 20% higher than expected

France, which has red light enforcement cameras fitted at 700 intersections throughout the country, has reported that they are bringing in substantially more revenue than expected. The fine for those running red lights is a €135 euro fine (US$183) and four penalty points on the driver’s licence.
April 26, 2012 Read time: 1 min
France, which has red light enforcement cameras fitted at 700 intersections throughout the country, has reported that they are bringing in substantially more revenue than expected. The fine for those running red lights is a €135 euro fine (US$183) and four penalty points on the driver’s licence.

The total revenue from fines from these cameras was estimated at €435 million (US$592 million for 2011 but is now forecast to hit €520 million – some 20 per cent more than expected. Interestingly, in France, revenue from these cameras does not go into the general exchequer but is spent on road safety and transport infrastructure: it is planned to spend some €160 million on improving public transport by local authorities; €170 million is earmarked for new infrastructure spending, and €190 will be spent on further developing the national camera enforcement camera system. For example, a further 200 fixed speed cameras, 40 red light cameras, and around 1,000 hand held units will be deployed in 2012.

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