Red Light Camera News It's wrong to prey on drivers making safe left turns at camera intersections
Ban the Cams note: The article below the comments is on Tuscon, AZ and the line of prolongation. (Trigger line that is beyond the stop line). The Scamera Vendor in Tuscon is ATS. But of more interest is same vendor different definitions of a "violation".
Answer this question readers:
Scamera vendors and their cohorts try to justify citing for stopping on or just over the stop line for "protection" of pedestrians (even if the car just touches the stop line). IN fact AAA Townsend called this. http://wusa9.com/news/article/175175/158/Red-Light-Camera-Debate-Drivers-Ticketed-For-Stopping-Over-The-White-Line "It's an abuse of power, an abuse of authority, and an abuse of the law."
IN fact in Denver the vendor there does it: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/11/03/denver-collects-fines-on-drivers-who-stop-at-red-lights/
A driver received a ticket for crossing the white line at a red light in Denver. (credit: CBS)
In fact the city that uses ATS cites for this too in DC. http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-on-foot/2011/11/a-driver-refutes-the-automated-justice-of-d-c-s-red-light-cameras-13738.html
In Tuscon, the city that uses ATS cites 43 feet BEYOND the STOP LINE!
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/29/2990.asp
Quote: At the Oracle location, for example, the violation line appears forty-three feet after the stop bar. This means a driver who clears the crosswalk on yellow would still get a ticket if he did not clear the violation line before the light turned red. At 40 MPH, the practice has the same effect on violations as shortening the yellow light by 1.3 seconds.
Why would the same vendor cite one way in one part of the US, and another way somewhere else??????? INTERESTING EH!
It's wrong to prey on drivers making safe left turns at camera intersections
Margaret Barnhart Special To The Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Friday, January 13, 2012 12:00 am |
North Kolb Road and East Speedway is near my home. Twice I have been making a left turn and was cited for "failure to stop at a red light." The light was yellow when I entered the crosswalk but my speed of 19 mph was too slow to cross the line of prolongation. According to Legislative Code 28-601 "Intersection means the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines … ."
At this intersection there is an angular line that extends well beyond the crosswalk. The reason it angles is because the CareMore health office curb is further out than the Lowe's store curb. A driver can easily become trapped between the crosswalk lines and the line of prolongation. I have seen drivers reach that angular line and back up, or slam on their brakes to avoid a camera flash. Is this safe?
Last June 28 the City Council extended the timing of left turn yellow lights from 3.0 to 3.5 seconds. The size of the intersection and the angle of curb lines is not considered.
At the end of 2010, according to the city's website, there were six intersections with cameras.
The one at Kolb and Speedway began operating on Nov. 26, 2010 - 36 days before Dec. 31. In that time there were 2,947 red-light violations. On average that would be 82 citations a day. In the year 2010 there were a total of 26,963 red-light violations. The Police Department does not keep data on how many were left turns.
These citations are costly. If you choose a hearing and are found guilty you will pay the cost of the ticket, court costs, and the state Motor Vehicle Division will be notified.
According to the city website, approximately 97 percent of all hearings are won by the city. You can remove one traffic violation from your record every two years. You still pay for a class, court and other fees.
According to their release on Sept. 21, 2011, "American Traffic Solutions (ATS) is proud to be the market leader in road safety camera installations in North America." That's who operates the cameras inside the city limits. It says it has been "recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of the largest and fastest growing privately held companies in Arizona." ATS was named the sixth-fastest growing privately held company in the state.
An ATS video shows the horror that is wrought when a vehicle goes straight through a red light. I believe the intention of the intersection cameras is to stop these drivers, not the ones executing safe left turns.
The City Council needs to take a serious look at ATS and the "safety" its cameras provide. In November 2010 the "red light" fine was $322. In August 2011 Sgt. Matt Ronstadt said in a Star story that the fine was $280. In October 2011 the fine was $335. Who profits?
Contact your council representative to effect change. Their phone numbers and email addresses are at cms3.tucsonaz.gov/citygov online.
I am a nine-year resident of Tucson who thinks it is wrong to prey on drivers making safe left turns at camera intersections. I speak from experience.
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