The City of Marietta uses photo red-light cameras at five intersections to detect vehicles that cross the stop line after a traffic signal turns red. The cameras rely on license plate images, and the notice is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. The City of Marietta’s current penalty is $70, with late fees of $25 every 30 days that the fine remains unpaid, up to $100 in late fees. Payment of the civil penalty does not become part of a driver’s record, is not used by insurance companies to calculate premiums, and does not create a criminal conviction.

That classification comes from Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-20 treats red-light camera violations as civil monetary penalties rather than regular moving violations. The statute says the penalty is not a moving traffic violation for points, is noncriminal, is not a conviction, does not become part of the person’s operating record, and cannot be used for motor vehicle insurance purposes.

Drivers who receive a City of Marietta photo red-light notice have several options. Using the violation number and PIN on the notice, they can view the video evidence online, pay the penalty, file an Affidavit of Non-Responsibility naming the person who was driving, notify the court that the vehicle had been stolen, state that they were not the registered owner at the time, or dispute the violation and receive a court date. A court appearance is required when a violation is disputed.

There are also timing and equipment rules. Georgia law requires red-light camera intersections to meet signal-timing standards, and the yellow-light interval cannot be shortened before installation or during camera operation. The minimum yellow-light change interval has to meet nationally recognized engineering standards plus one additional second. The city also has to test the camera equipment for accuracy at regular intervals, and those test results are public records.

Red light cameras are in operation at the following four intersections in the City of Marietta:

• Cobb Parkway at Windy Hill Rd
• Cobb Parkway at Allgood Rd
• Powder Springs St at South Marietta Pkwy
• Cobb Parkway at the onramp to Canton Road Conn

Red light cameras are active at the following intersection as of November 17, 2024:

• Cobb Parkway at South Marietta Parkway

Red light cameras under consideration for the following intersections:

• Fairground Street at South Marietta Parkway
• Cobb Parkway at Roswell Street

School zone cameras possibly coming soon:

• A motion to enter negotiations with Marietta City Schools for the establishment of two school camera zones was approved at a City of Marietta Public Works Committee meeting on July 25, 2023.

The safety value of red-light cameras remains debated. Supporters argue that cameras reduce red-light running and can cut down on right-angle crashes, also called T-bone or broadside crashes, where one vehicle strikes the side of another. Those crashes can be severe, with injuries that may include fractures, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. The Federal Highway Administration found that red-light cameras were associated with fewer right-angle crashes and more rear-end crashes, with a modest crash-cost benefit across the studied locations.

Critics argue that the cameras can encourage sudden braking and may shift the crash pattern rather than solve it. A Texas-focused analysis by Justin Gallagher and Paul J. Fisher found no evidence that red-light cameras reduced total crashes, total injuries, or incapacitating injuries in the cities studied. That is the kind of finding that keeps the debate alive, preferably without tailgating a dump truck through Cobb Parkway to test the theory.

Revenue is another source of public skepticism. The City of Marietta’s red-light camera program has generated substantial revenue in past years, including more than $1 million annually in earlier years. More recent reporting listed collections of $673,000 in 2022 and $628,000 in 2023. That said, Georgia law states that no portion of a civil monetary penalty from a red-light camera may be paid to the camera manufacturer or vendor, and vendor compensation cannot be based on the number of citations issued or revenue generated.

Unincorporated Cobb County does not currently operate red-light cameras. Drivers inside Marietta, however, should watch for “Photo Enforced” signs and remember the key rule: if the light is red, stop before the line.

For more information about Marietta’s red light cameras, please contact the City of Marietta Municipal Court at (866) 790-4111 or (770) 794-5400.