http://www.kristv.com/news/state-representative-pushes-to-do-away-with-red-light-cameras/

State Representative Pushes To Do Away With Red Light Cameras
By Mitch Bryan

PhotosVideo State Representative Pushes To Do Away With Red Light CamerasState Representative Pushes To Do Away With Red Light Cameras
Posted : Jul 6, 2010 9:16 PM
Updated: Jul 7, 2010 3:14 AM

CORPUS CHRISTI - The city now has more than 15 red light cameras, located at various intersections around town. But one of our local state representatives is renewing his push to have all of them removed.

Representative Solomon Ortiz Jr. is working on another bill to do away with the cameras. And though the city says that safety is the primary motive for these cameras, Ortiz feels that money is the real reason.

"I'm staying on top of it, because I think it's an over reach on behalf of the city," said Solomon.

According to him, the city claims that safety is the driving force behind the cameras, but he feels that the bottom line is the real reason.

"To me, it's really a false statement. At the end of the day this shouldn't be revenue for the city if you really are just talking about safety," Ortiz said.

But that's an accusation that the city denies out-right.

Assistant City Manager, Oscar Martinez replied, "Well, we've always said it's about safety. As a matter of fact you can see from some of the revenues we've received, it's hasn't exactly been a tremendous windfall to the city of Corpus Christi."

And he's right. We were told that after the camera company gets it's cut, and after the state takes it's percentage of the revenue, the city is only left with a fraction of the profits.

And Ortiz feels the city's concern of safety is a flawed one.

"Now does it cut down on some red light runs? Yeah, I'm sure it does. A 75 or hundred dollar ticket is a good deterrent, obviously. But I think at the end of the day, the city argues safety. The city argues less collisions. But if you look at the statistics, the number of accidents go up and I think that's going against what their argument is," Ortiz told us.

Solomon says he'll be persuing his legislation, and if he's successful, the city says they'll abide by whatever changes the state makes.

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