City of Thornton Red-Light and Mobile Speed Automated Photo Safety Program
The City of Thornton and the Thornton Police Department are working to improve community safety by installing state-of-the-art digital red-light safety cameras and mobile speed cameras to decrease traffic violations and collisions and to help increase safety in our community.
That’s why Thornton has partnered with Verra Mobility to install red-light safety cameras at two high-risk locations around the city. To reduce excessive speeding, Thornton will also place mobile speed cameras on city roads.
These cameras have been proven effective in reducing crashes and serious injuries. We want to stop this behavior before it becomes even more dangerous, or even fatal.
Verra Mobility’s programs across the U.S. gathered 4.6 million red-light citations in 2023, with a recidivism rate of 84%, meaning most violators did not repeat their illegal behavior. Speed programs issued 11.6 million speed citations with a 62% recidivism rate.
This is just one of the many tools Thornton is employing to keep the community safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red-light cameras have been proven to be effective in reducing red-light violations and right-angle collisions, and speed cameras consistently lessen reckless speeding and reduce pedestrian-related accidents. Municipalities using these systems consistently report safer roads with fewer collisions.
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A Notice of Violation for a red-light violation is issued when a vehicle fails to stop at a clearly marked stop line or at any other stopping point described in the ordinance when facing a steady circular red signal, or if the vehicle does not come to a complete stop before making a right turn. Similarly, a Notice of Violation is issued when a vehicle fails to comply with the posted speed limit.
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The fine for a red-light violation is $75. Failure to respond to a Notice of Violation, failure to appear for a requested hearing, or failure to pay a penalty imposed after a hearing may result in the issuance of a Summons and Complaint with personal service at an additional charge of $18. Once personal service has been provided, your appearance in court will be required.
Drivers will incur fines of $40 in a non-school zone and $80 in a school zone for speed violations.
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No. This violation is considered a civil infraction; no points will be assessed. It will not impact your car insurance.
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All driver information, including images, video, and metadata, is destroyed 181 days after a warning is issued and 1,095 days after a citation is issued or dismissed. Data is not stored for any period after that.
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No. Law enforcement only uses these photo enforcement cameras to enforce existing speeding and red-light laws.
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ONLINE: The fastest and easiest way to pay is online. Go to www.ViolationInfo.com and log in with your Notice # and PIN, which are located on the front of your Notice. Click the Pay button. A fee may apply for online payments.
PHONE: Call (toll-free) 1-866-790-4111 and select option 1. Phone payments are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A fee may apply.
PAYMENT BY MAIL: Mail your check or money order (payable to the City of Thornton) in the enclosed envelope with the coupon printed at the bottom of the front side of your notice. DO NOT MAIL CASH. Be sure to put the Notice # on the face of your payment. Checks returned due to insufficient funds may result in an additional fee added to the civil penalty due and any fees charged by your banking institution.
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The registered owner of a vehicle will be mailed the Notice of Violation. If your vehicle was stolen, sold before the date and time of the violation, the operator received a citation for this violation from a law enforcement officer, driver at time of the violation is deceased, or the vehicle was otherwise not in your care, custody, or control at the time of the violation, you may submit a sworn statement to that effect to rebut the presumption that you were driving the vehicle at the time of the violation.
Send the notarized Affidavit of Non-Responsibility (along with all supporting documentation and a copy of your Notice of Violation) back before the Due Date on the front of this Notice. Please mail to Violation Processing Center, PO Box 22091, Tempe, AZ 85285-2091, or email to Info@ViolationInfo.com, or fax to 1-480-990- 4819. If an Owner furnishes satisfactory evidence pursuant to this paragraph, the Court may terminate the prosecution of this Notice of Violation issued to the owner, and if appropriate, issue a Notice of Violation to the person identified in the evidence as the operator of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation. You will be notified of the outcome by mail. Keep in mind that submitting the Affidavit will NOT automatically result in the closure of this matter. If further information is required, you will be notified.
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Please call customer service at 1-866-790-4111 and have your license plate number handy.
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Please call Verra Mobility, available 24/7, at 1-866-790-4111, or the Thornton Police Department at 720-977-5150.
How do red-light safety cameras work?
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Vehicle captured prior to the intersection when the light is red.
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Vehicle captured within the intersection when the light is red. Close-up image of the license plate taken.
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Identifies the driver of the vehicle.
How do mobile speed cameras work?
Step 1: The system activates when a vehicle is detected traveling in excess of the posted speed limit.
Step 2: The system takes an image of the front of the vehicle to identify the driver.
Step 3: The system takes an image of the rear of the vehicle to identify the license plate.
Step 4: Additional data collected includes the time, date, posted speed, vehicle speed, location, lane and direction of travel.
Step 5: The police review the images and data captured by the system to determine whether to issue a violation notice.
