Redflex Front Group files suit against city to PREVENT THE VOTERS FROM BANNING RLC!

Ban the Cams note:  the Texas Traffic "safety" Coalition is a REDFLEX FRONT GROUP!  THEY REPRESENT THE CAMERA COMPANY!  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/37/3744.asp

Comment from Carl Baugh:  The Texas Traffic Safty Coalition Is trying to bypass the people AGAIN!!

http://portlavacawave.com/news/article_8e010a7a-864b-11e1-894d-0019bb2963f4.html

TTSC files lawsuit against Port Lavaca 
 
Posted: Saturday, April 14, 2012 11:04 am | Updated: 11:24 am, Sat Apr 14, 2012.

TTSC files lawsuit against Port Lavaca By JAY WORKMAN

A new legal step has been added to the red light camera controversy, but the cameras continue to click.

The Texas Traffic Safety Coalition filed a motion Thursday for a summary judgment involving the cameras in 267th District Court here.

 The motion, naming the City of Port Lavaca as defendant, asks the court to declare that the city’s red light ordinance is not subject to referendum and the city cannot place it on an election ballot.

A group of citizens presented a petition to the city council in January asking that the red light ordinance be put to a vote in the city. The council accepted in February certification of a petition signed by 269 registered voters and decided in March to take no action regarding the petition’s request.

Carl Baugh, who organized the petition, said Thursday his opposition “is trying to bypass the will of the people.”

“We’re waiting to go forward. Litigation is probably next,” Baugh said. He said his group has talked with lawyers but has yet to hire one in an attempt to get rid of the cameras.

The Traffic Safety Coalition, represented by Austin lawyer Matthew Beatty, filed an amendment in March to an earlier motion asking the district court for a declaratory judgment on the matter. A declaratory judgment establishes the rights of the parties without ordering that anything be done. Thursday’s summary judgment request, if granted, would be a determination that there is no genuine issue of fact. Beatty’s new motion does not ask for a court date.

It argues that the Texas Transportation Code authorizes municipalities to use photo traffic signal enforcement and that Port Lavaca contracted in February 2008 with Redflex Traffic Systems of Phoenix with payments of $4,870 a month for each camera. It says a referendum could not be called to install or remove red light cameras. Beatty argues that referendums by law cannot involve appropriating money, set fees, involve the budget or involve expenditures.

Texas Secretary of State records show Texas Traffic Safety Coalition was incorporated as nonprofit organization in March 2011. Listed as directors are three men with the same office address in Chicago.

Ban the Cams note:  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/34/3445.asp  This is from the 4/4/2011 article on the first time the Front Group sued to stop a earlier petition.  Quote:  An Australian company has hired kingmakers from Chicago, Illinois to prevent Texas residents from being able to decide whether or not red light cameras should be used in their community. A "grassroots" group calling itself the Texas Traffic Safety coalition filed a lawsuit to stop the city of Port Lavaca, Texas from holding a referendum on the photo enforcement program run by Melbourne-based Redflex. Although no court order was issued in the case, the city council decided not to hold the election, despite the city charter's instruction that the council must place a qualified petition on the ballot.

According to the March 3 Texas Secretary of State filing that created the Texas Traffic Safety Coalition, the group consists of three directors: David Goldenberg, Gregory Goldner and David Smolensky. All three are officers of Resolute Consulting, a public relations firm based in Chicago, Illinois. Redflex is one of the firm's satisfied clients.

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