While the cameras fixed on top of traffic lights might look like security cameras designed to patrol violations, they are actually opticons, designed for emergency transportation use, East Lansing police Lt. Steve Gonzalez said.

“The system is designed for the fire departments,” Gonzalez said. “Each fire truck and ambulance has a sensor on it.”

The sensors help traffic lights to turn according to the needs of first responders, he said.

“As they approach the light ... (the sensor) will trip the light to allow that fire truck or ambulance to go through on a green light,” Gonzalez said, adding that the system exists so that emergency vehicles can avoid going through a red light and risk causing crashes.

“It’s a fantastic safety feature,” said Anita Sukis, the fire safety training officer for the East Lansing Fire Department.

There is also a white floodlight on the opticon system to signal to traffic, Sukis said. If the opticon’s light is blinking, it means an emergency vehicle is approaching on the other side of the road from that opticon. But if the floodlight on the opticon turns on and is stationary, there is an emergency vehicle approaching from behind the traffic.

“The opticon system has been fully operational in East Lansing for three years,” Sukis said.

But on campus, there are cameras designed to monitor traffic.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said the cameras are there to monitor whether or not there is a car at the stop light.

“They don’t record anything,” McGlothian-Taylor said, adding that the cameras monitor the cars, so the lights can change if a car is waiting.