Photo submitted to Times Observer A new video camera system will monitor traffic at the intersection of Route 6 and W. Main St. in Youngsville.

Youngsville Borough is doing some photography.

The borough installed a traffic camera this week at the signaled intersection of Route 6 and W. Main St.

The equipment was approved by borough council and installed by GridSmart.

The camera has several purposes.

Foremost, it replaces the system that determines when the light will change. “This replaces the loops underground that sense when a motor vehicle is waiting for the light to change from different directions,” Borough Police Chief Todd Mineweaser said. There will be no automatic timed changes. The light will remain green for Route 6 until a vehicle is detected.

“If a tractor trailer is coming through at three in the morning, the light will hold,” Mineweaser said. “This camera will help our tractor trailer drivers, delivery drivers, etc. afterhours when nobody is coming from a different direction. It will stay green on SR 6 until the camera picks up a vehicle coming from West Main St.

The camera is not going to generate ‘red light tickets.’

The GridSmart Bell Camera offers ‘horizon-to-horizon’ view and includes the center of the intersection, according to Business Development Manager Scott Schafer.

It will let police know how many vehicles go through the intersection, in which directions, and how many of them run red lights.

“It’s going to give us some good data,” Mineweaser said.

If the data points to a high rate of violations at a certain time of day, the department might increase its presence there at that time.

At the same time the camera is intended to keep traffic flowing, Mineweaser said he expects the camera to help slow traffic down and encourage people not to violate laws there.

The camera will also help with investigations.

If there is a serious crash at the intersection, police will be able to look at the video, Mineweaser said.

If there is a drive-off or robbery at a near-by convenience store, the video is likely to show at least the vehicle involved.