Starting Sunday, red-light runners caught on camera in North Bay Village will have to pay up.

Three intersections on John F. Kennedy Causeway are currently under surveillance thanks to traffic cameras installed by a private corporation contracted with the city.

The 30-day grace period for drivers blowing through red lights ends Saturday.

Beginning Sunday, violators will be issued $150 citations.

Constantly recording cameras were installed in October, pointed at vehicles going east and west along several causeway intersections: at Harbor Island Drive, Adventure Avenue and East Treasure Drive.

City commissioners unanimously approved the installation of cameras during a March meeting, when City Manager Matthew Schwartz estimated the system operated by Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions would rake in $325,000 annually.

Schwartz said more people run red lights than could ever be caught by patrol officers.

So far this year, police officers have issued 76 tickets to drivers running red lights, according to police statistics.

Schwartz said the number of drivers caught running red lights will likely skyrocket with the new system.

``We're not depending on that money, but we could get a million dollars,'' he said.

During the 30-day grace period, red-light runners were to be sent a warning letter -- although as of Monday, no one had been busted on camera, according to Police Chief Roland Pandolfi.

The cameras at Adventure Avenue and East Treasure Drive are currently recording; those at Harbor Island Drive are expected to be online soon, Pandolfi said. Unlike tickets issued by police officers, citations issued to drivers caught on camera are noncriminal civil violations and will not involve Miami-Dade County courts. Pandolfi said the cameras were placed at the city's most dangerous intersections. Among them is East Treasure Drive, where drivers going west from Miami Beach zip by as they drive down a bridge located near a school.

``People come flying down that bridge,'' he said. ``Speeding's a problem. We don't have resources we should have out there. There are pedestrians out there and kids going to school.''

Several cities have already instituted video surveillance systems, including Miami, North Miami Beach and North Miami. The newest additions are Coral Gables and Bal Harbor, which installed their first cameras in September.

``I'm not into big brother and tape recorders, but it's a great tool,'' he said, noting that police might use video to gather evidence for other investigations.

According to city documents, revenue from citations will be split between the city and American Traffic Solutions, which paid for the installation.

Pandolfi said the company will mail citations to a car's registered owner after video is approved by local police.

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