http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110415/OPINIONS02/104150318/Red-light-cameras-challenge-city

Red-light cameras a challenge for the city

12:00 AM, Apr. 15, 2011

Opinions

Melinda Booze, assistant professor of communication at Evangel University, engaged students in her editorial writing class in a project with the News-Leader this semester. Students were divided into two groups to experience the workings of an editorial board, to research and discuss local issues and jointly craft an editorial. This is the first of the group opinions.

Springfield has been trying to determine what to do with red-light cameras since Adolph Belt, Jr., former state trooper, filed suit against them. The cameras, meant to reduce intersection collisions, have posed several problems since their installment in 2007.

The court case dealt with claims that Springfield was not handling the tickets correctly or fairly, therefore making them a violation of individual rights. There was no oversight of the credibility of the tickets administered and the individuals receiving the tickets did not have the opportunity to represent themselves in court, the case said.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled the ticketing process unlawful based on the defendants' inability to represent themselves in court after receiving a ticket. The court also called into question the length of yellow lights in Springfield.

In March of 2005 the Texas Transportation Institute conducted a study to see if states were being too hasty in relying on the cameras. Other options also proved to effectively reduce intersection collisions. According to the study, an extra second of the yellow light reduced collisions by 40 percent. The Supreme Court supported Belt's case. This ruling led to the cameras being shut off in Springfield. The City Council is determining what steps to take next.

While Springfield is determining whether it should re-activate the cameras, the rest of Missouri is dealing with traffic camera problems as well. Where the money goes after the ticket is issued has been called into question throughout various regions in the state. The Missouri House of Representatives has recently issued a bill that would reallocate the funding of the cameras

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Title
Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Email
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (registered users only)
	Add Comment Preview