The City’s 22 traffic cameras are used to detect vehicles at the intersection as part of the automated traffic light control system. In other words, traffic cameras are used in Cape Girardeau to help time how quickly signal lights change at intersections around town.
Traffic cameras are never used to issue tickets to drivers for red light or speeding enforcement. Cameras are a standard component of new and renovated four-way intersections with traffic lights, and they are commonly used to time traffic lights in many cities – not just in Cape Girardeau.
Once the City’s fiber network expanded between our facilities, we were able to add nine traffic cameras to the network. All intersections with cameras are listed below, including notation of which nine cameras are connected to the fiber network. Only those nine cameras connected to the fiber network can be recorded. These cameras and their recordings are available to select traffic and police personnel as needed. Public records from the fiber-connected cameras’ recordings are retained for 30 days, according to their retention schedule.
Current Locations of Traffic Cameras in Cape Girardeau
As of April 2016
| Main Street | Side Street | Cameras | Fiber Connection | |
| 1 | Bloomfield | Silver Springs | Yes | No |
| 2 | Broadway | Spirgg | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Broadway | Pacific | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Broadway | Henderson | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Broadway | West End | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Broadway | Perry | Yes | No |
| 7 | Broadway | Caruthers | Yes | No |
| 8 | Broadway | Clark | Yes | No |
| 9 | Independence | Sprigg | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Independence | West End | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Independence | Caruthers | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Main | Spanish | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Mt. Auburn | Bloomfield | Yes | No |
| 14 | Mt. Auburn | Doctor’s Park | Yes | No |
| 15 | Mt. Auburn | Independence | Yes | No |
| 16 | Mt. Auburn | Hopper | Yes | No |
| 17 | Siemers | Bloomfield | Yes | No |
| 18 | Siemers | Lambert | Yes | No |
| 19 | Sprigg | Normal | Yes | No |
| 20 | William | Sheridan | Yes | No |
| 21 | William | Sprigg | Yes | No |
| 22 | William | West End | Yes | Yes |
How Traffic Camera Recordings Help You
Many of us have been involved in traffic accidents. It is definitely not a fun experience, especially if you would find yourself in an accident that also made you the victim of a crime. In these situations, and where an accident happened in or near an intersection with one of the nine cameras attached to fiber and therefore recorded, you can work with the police officer who filed your accident report or through City Hall to get anything you need involving the recording. We will keep specific videos longer as needed if involved in an accident, or other, investigation.
Our staff positions with access to the cameras include:
- Traffic Operations Manager
- Special Projects Coordinator
- Street Superintendent
- Storm/Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
- IT Manager
- IT Network Engineer
- Safe Communities Coordinator
- Property/Evidence Tech
- All sworn police officers
- All 911 communications staff
Other Information About Traffic Cameras
The City recently entered into an agreement with the University to share fiber for both agencies’ mutual benefit at no cost to the city. Read more about that at: http://www.semissourian.com/story/2298586.html.