Red Light Camera News Backlash growing against red light cameras
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7094967.html
Backlash growing against red light cameras
© 2010 The Associated Press
July 5, 2010, 4:19PM
Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponEmail Close [X]DALLAS — Public support for the use of red light cameras in Texas and across the country could be switching from green to yellow.
Three states — Maine, Mississippi and Montana — banned red light cameras last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Six others have considered similar proposals.
In Texas, voters forced College Station to take down its cameras last fall while opponents in Houston say they have enough petition signatures to put the cameras to a vote this fall. Camera opponents in the Texas Legislature say they plan again to try to pass a measure phasing out the cameras statewide.
"There is a backlash, for sure," state Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr., D-Corpus Christi, who co-sponsored the anti-camera push, told The Dallas Morning News. "City budgeters are counting on these fines as a revenue stream and simply using the argument of safety as cover."
But cities using the red camera systems, which capture images, and sometimes video of drivers running red lights, insist they have reduced intersection accidents and saved lives.
(Ban the Cams note: we have posted video too, the video shows the RLC DIDN'T STOP THE WRECK!)
"They've performed much better than I ever imagined," said Elizabeth Ramirez, chief traffic engineer for Dallas.
She said Dallas has seen declines in red-light accidents at nearly every one of its 59 camera-equipped intersections since the first wave launched in January 2007.
While camera critics dispute the safety data, the money generated has raised eyebrows as collections have pushed into the tens of millions.
With most Texas cities charging civil fines of between $75 and $100 per violation, collections across the state have reached more than $103 million since a revised red-light camera law took effect in 2007. State figures show Houston has collected the largest amount: about $24 million through May.
A 2007 state law requires cities to set aside half of all profits to help fund regional trauma care centers. Most cities use their share for traffic safety and enforcement efforts.
Houston police Sgt. Michael Muench, who oversees that city's red-light camera program, said his department has put its revenues into crash-scene investigation equipment, extra traffic patrols, radar guns and other traffic-related improvements.
An analysis of state figures and the vendor agreements of about a dozen Texas cities show the contracts cities have with camera vendors are the biggest factor in whether a city makes money. Cities rent the cameras from vendors under negotiated terms.
Houston's $24 million in collections since 2007 is more than triple the total fines collected by Dallas, according to figures from the state comptroller's office. And in the last two years, Dallas' program has cost more to run than Houston's.
Houston pays a flat monthly fee of $3,000 per camera, plus bonuses if a camera catches a high number of violations. Dallas pays its vendor $3,800 per camera per month. Houston, which has 70 cameras, uses American Traffic Solutions Inc., of Arizona. Dallas has 59 cameras and uses Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services.
Paul Kubosh, a Houston traffic attorney who has led the Houston petition drive to repeal the cameras, accuses the city of "selling the streets to the highest bidder. It's a voter revolt."
Subscribe to this comment's feedwritten by Texan from Florida 78 , July 27, 2011
Red light cameras are put in to "HELP" police make streets safer, or so they claim. It is really just another erosion of your rights and the intrusion of "big brother".
If you are old enough to remember the beginning of the "federal school lunch program" or"federal highway funds", both supposed to assist the state and local governments manage their budgets, BUT became and instrument of Federal CONTROL over local issues.
A Red Light Camera to protect us now at intersections, Tomorrow they will put them in our HOMES! They already legislate how you can raise your children, They don't need a warrant to invade your home.They (the government)just need an excuse such as "safety" or "security" to take over and "we the people" roll over and give it up.
WAKE UP AMERICA-
written by BanTheCams , March 14, 2011
stay tuned. We have caught some towns shortening the yellow and green lights below Department of Transportation's standards in order to trap more motorist. We are currently working on a video and will be releasing it to the press upon completion. I have already forward the script to some of our activist and Representative for there use in fighting this abuse.
Together We Can Stop This Abuse
written by Jim P , March 14, 2011
I am wondering if with the installation of these camera systems have all the timing sequences of the lights been standardized. If not then I feel each city will need to refund all the money collected to date! Without standardized timing based on the roadway speed it would be difficult to judge when you should or should not stop! If you stop short then you run the risk of a rear end collision. Perhaps we could do away with the amber light all together, that would really bost revenue:)
written by red light hater , March 12, 2011
We are looking to ban cameras in Florida via an amendment to the constitution.
Help us ban red light cameras in Florida
http://banredlightcamerasflorida.com
written by linda , July 15, 2010
Rolling right turn could cost you $158
Red-light cameras are helping Hallandale Beach raise $1 million
July 10, 2010|By Michael Mayo, News Columnist
In theory, red-light cameras are supposed to be about safety, curbing reckless drivers from blowing through intersections at high speeds.
But the reality at one South Florida intersection seems more like a game of "Gotcha," with an astounding 93 percent of violations going to unwitting drivers making rolling right turns on red.
"This feels like a money grab," said Phil Kodroff, one of almost 11,000 drivers to get snagged by Hallandale Beach's red-light camera since it started snapping away in January.
The city's take by mid-June: almost $1 million.
see the full article: in the South Florida Sun Sentinel
(copy and paste full link into browser)
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-07-10/news/fl-red-light-cameras-mayocol-b071110-20100709_1_red-light-cameras-dwayne-flournoy-easy-money
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