9 Investigates shortened yellow light at red-light camera intersection

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates learned that an error could have caused hundreds of Orange County drivers to get red-light tickets that they may not deserve.

Reporter and traffic anchor Racquel Asa found out that nearly 600 drivers were shorted on yellow lights at the intersection of Clarcona Ocoee and Hiawassee roads for nine months.

Since Eyewitness News brought the error to the county's attention, the county is trying to figure out what to do with hundreds of citations that were issued.

The red-light camera at Clarcona Ocoee and Hiawassee roads was moved to Turkey Lake and Sand Lake roads, but not before issuing 570 violations.

At issue was the timing of the traffic lights that dictated if the camera should snap a picture or not. Driver Henry Grant always thought the light was a little fast.

"By the time you get there, it goes to red. That just goes to show you that you don't get no time for the amber, which we call the yellow lights," Grant said.

Asa discovered that the yellow light time at the intersection was four seconds from August 2012 to May 2013, when it should have been 4.3 seconds.

Red-light camera opponent David Shaw first told Channel 9 about the yellow light error.

"I definitely double-checked myself and said, 'Really? Is this really happening?' Then after double-checking and triple-checking, yeah it was right there," Shaw said.

The county said the error was traced back to an engineering plan that a contractor used to retime the traffic signals when a road-widening project was completed.

Officials said they plan to review each of the citations that were issued at the intersection before sending refunds.

WFTV