NEWBERG, Ore. — Since the red light camera was reinstalled at the intersection of Villa Road and Oregon 99W, passersby say they’ve seen the camera flash even when they and nearby drivers were not speeding, and the light was still green.
It’s led some community members to wonder: How do these cameras work, and could I be in violation without knowing it?
How the Cameras Work
According to camera manufacturer NovoaGlobal, the cameras use a proprietary algorithm that compares the speed of all oncoming vehicles in the enforcement zone against the time the light is expected to turn green.
If a vehicle is moving at a speed likely to result in a traffic violation — entering the intersection after the light has turned red, or exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 10 mph — the camera photographs the car, the license plate, and the signal status at the time.
“This is one of the most common reasons drivers may see a flash even when they do not receive a ticket,” said Darlene Hinds, NovoaGlobal director of program management.
If the vehicle slows to within the speed limit tolerance or stops before running the light, the photo is discarded. If the vehicle continues through the intersection, a second photo is captured showing the vehicle’s speed and position.
“The systems are calibrated annually and tested to an accuracy of less than 1 mph, with actual performance typically exceeding that standard,” Hinds said.
Every citation issued by the system is first reviewed by the Newberg-Dundee Police Department before it is sent to the driver. NDPD Administrative Sgt. Eric Ronning, who reviews the citations, said the cameras also flash at times when they are calibrating for accuracy.
“Just because there is a flash doesn’t necessarily mean a violation has taken place,” Ronning said.
The City of Newberg relaunched red-light and intersection speed photo enforcement at the intersection of Oregon 99W and Villa Road in January 2026. The cameras monitor westbound traffic toward downtown Newberg and northbound traffic.
