Red Light Camera News Manatee may step back from red-light cameras (ACS may SUE to keep scam going).
(Thanks to Paul Henry for sharing the link).
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111218/ARTICLE/111219587/2055/NEWS?p=all&tc=pgall
Manatee may step back from red-light cameras (ACS may SUE to keep scam going).
By Halle Stockton
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Published: Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 4:57 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 4:57 p.m.
MANATEE COUNTY - While surrounding cities and counties are adding red-light cameras, Manatee County may totally abandon its photo enforcement program to catch red-light runners.
And with some cameras already installed at county intersections, the reversal could cost Manatee County more than $600,000 in fees, even though the cameras have never been turned on and not one ticket has been issued.
Manatee County commissioners on Tuesday will consider stopping contract negotiations with the red-light camera vendor, ACS State and Local Solutions, Inc.
(Ban the Cams note: ACS is the same vendor who was embroiled in the POLICE corruption bribery scandal in Edmonton, Canada years ago http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/09/965.asp (a judge later swept it under the carpet too http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2578.asp). Also the same vendor who bought Steak dinners at Chris Ruth Steakhouse to push scamera legislation in MD too! http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2392.asp. Make no mistake ACS tenticles in some police departments may run deep. Here is a comment from the Edmonton Article above: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2578.asp
ACS routinely hires police officials who are helpful to their cause, often using them to lobby former colleagues in other cities to install photo ticketing systems. )
About a year ago, the vendor installed two red-light cameras at the intersection of 34th Street West and 53rd Avenue, and another at the crossing of 15th Street East and 57th Avenue.
ACS states it also completed construction on a fourth camera site.
The cameras were never turned on because the county's agreement with the vendor was not valid once a state law regulating the use of the equipment took effect in July 2010.
The county and ACS have not reached a new agreement.
Bradenton was the first city in the region to install the cameras, which issued an average of 10 tickets daily in 2009. It now has operational cameras at seven intersections.
Sarasota's first red-light camera went online on Dec. 1 at the crossing of Bahia Vista Street and Tuttle Avenue.
The city plans to install nine other cameras at dangerous intersections once permits are issued; Bahia Vista and Tuttle is considered the sixth most dangerous intersection in Sarasota.
(Ban the Cams note: WONDER HOW MANY CRASHES ARE RLV RELATED OR NOT. After what happened in Dunellon where NOT ONE CRASH ON THE APPLICATION TO F-DOT was RLV realated! Cities have a "habit" of not BEING TRUTHFUL on their data! In fact here is the quote from the Dunellon article on the RLC scam there. http://www.ocala.com/article/20111204/OPINION/111209930/1005/sports01?Title=Red-light-cameras-are-about-revenue
In summary, none of the 27 accident reports submitted with the three camera installation applications pertained to red-light-running and none of them involved right-hand turns.)
The vendor claims that Manatee County's delay is a breach of contract, according to an ACS letter dated Nov. 29.
ACS wrote that stopping negotiations would cost Manatee County about $603,300 in termination fees. The vendor would also then remove the equipment.
The vendor paid upfront costs for equipment and installation, which cost at least $500,000.
Manatee County agreed that it would pay ACS a monthly fee of $4,650 to operate the cameras, but the cameras were never operational.
County Attorney Tedd Williams wrote that the contract with the vendor does not fault anyone if the agreement becomes "impossible to perform," delayed or prevented by an act of another government.
The state's Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act set uniform standards and fines for violations caught on red-light cameras.
The law allows cameras to be installed on state roads but also regulates the revenue split between the state, local government and camera vendor.
Williams wrote that the law prevents Manatee County from being able to enforce its red-light camera ordinances and requires the county to give $83 of the $158 fine to the state.
The potential revenue would not be enough to make the program feasible because the county would have to hire new personnel to run the camera program, including a full-time deputy.
Williams' arguments are contained in a letter that will be sent to ACS if the commissioners approve the action on Tuesday.
Williams advised commissioners not to comment prior to the public meeting because the dispute is a potential matter of litigation.
The Commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W
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