http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14883133

Loma Linda won't renew red-light camera contract
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/14/2010 01:56:06 PM PDT
Updated: 04/14/2010 02:22:11 PM PDT

LOMA LINDA - The city will not extend its contract with the company that installed red-light cameras when the agreement expires in December.
The City Council voted 3-1 Tuesday to give notice to Redflex Traffic Systems that it is not renewing the contract.

Councilmen Robert Ziprick, Floyd Petersen and Rhodes Rigsby voted in favor. Mayor Stan Brauer opposed the measure. Councilman Ovidiu Popescu abstained.

Ziprick said a lot has changed since he supported putting in the cameras in 2005.

Fines for red-light violations have increased significantly, he said, and most tickets are issued to drivers who fail to stop completely before making right turns.

Ziprick said it would be wise to listen to a "strong majority" in the community who feel the cameras should go.

"Citizens are getting tired of these tickets," he said.

There was disagreement about whether council action was needed to ensure that the contract expired and was not automatically renewed.

Popescu accused Ziprick of trying to exploit the issue for political gain.

"Sending a notice is a meaningless gesture, because the contract already ends in December; it doesn't automatically renew," said Popescu, who opposes Ziprick's June 8 re-election bid.

Popescu said he and Rigsby tried to get the council to remove the cameras in September, but others didn't go along.

Ziprick and City Attorney Richard Holdaway said the contract has an

automatic renewal clause that requires the city to give notice of its intention not to renew.

Brauer said he wanted "a clear-cut understanding" of what the contract says before making a decision.

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