http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/mar/04/red-light-cameras-go-to-court-city-files/

WENATCHEE — The attorney for the city of Wenatchee took the battle over red-light cameras to court on Tuesday.

Steve Smith filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief in Chelan County Superior Court.

The complaint seeks a court order validating the city’s contentions that a proposed initiative on red-light cameras is beyond the scope of the measure’s power. It also states the initiative would impair an existing contract between the city and the business that provides red-light cameras.

The complaint is filed against We the People Wenatchee and Campaign for Liberty, nonprofit groups in the state; and VotersWant MoreChoices.com and Bancams.com, listed as unknown entities.

Matt Erickson, an organizer of a petition drive to gather signatures on a red-light camera initiative, said Thursday he had not seen the complaint but its existence would not deter initiative promoters from continuing to gather signatures.

At issue is a city ordinance, enacted in 2009, that authorizes the city to set up cameras to catch people who are running red lights. The cameras are set up at Kittitas and Mission streets, Chelan and Orondo avenues, and Chelan Avenue and Fifth Street.

Matt Erickson

Organizer of red-light camera petition
In late January, Tim Eyman and a small group of civic activists told city officials they planned to collect enough signatures to ask voters if they want to keep the red-light cameras operating.

The initiative, called Wenatchee Initiative No. 1, would:

• Repeal the city ordinance allowing the red-light cameras

• Require city officials to get voter approval if they want to try to reinstate red-light cameras in the future.

• Limit the amount of fines if red-light cameras are approved to no more than the least expensive parking ticket imposed in the city. That is a fine of $30. The fine for running a red light is $124.

Tim Eyman

Opposed to red-light cameras
• Require a two-thirds vote of the City Council for cameras to operate if voters approve the use of cameras.

The complaint filed this week by the city says:

• State law gives the city the authority to enact the red-light camera ordinance and the proposed initiative would improperly interfere with that.

• The proposed ordinance does not meet the requirements for inclusion on a special election ballot. That ballot, the complaint contends, should be limited to tax levies that previously failed within the calendar year, and new bond issues.

• The proposed initiative would interfere with the city’s contract for red-light cameras with American Traffic Solutions. That contract runs through March 26, 2014.

Erickson has previously stated that initiative organizers need 2,273 signatures to place the measure on an Aug. 16 ballot.

Last week, he said organizers had gathered 385 signatures. On Thursday, he said he would no longer comment on how many signatures had been gathered. He said Eyman told him such comments would interfere with the momentum of the campaign.

Dee Riggs: 664-7147

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