http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1314479

State's photo radar ends Thursdayby Kevin Tripp/KTAR (July 14th, 2010 @ 4:26pm) 
 
PHOENIX -- The photo radar program on Arizona's freeways ends Thursday after Gov. Jan Brewer let a contract with Redflex Traffic Systems expire.

Many cities still have photo enforcement programs on their streets; only the cameras on state highways are going away.

The governor's spokesman, Paul Senseman, said Brewer wants voters to decide the future of photo radar.

"Gov. Brewer proposed back in January, in her budget document, that this matter be put before Arizona voters to have the ultimate decision as to whether or not they'd like to continue a state photo radar system or not," Senseman said. He said the Legislature discussed the issue, but did not put it on the ballot.

The debate over photo radar is not over, said Senseman.

"Not only will this discussion be continuing in the Arizona Legislature, it's a discussion that policy makers around the United States, even the world, are going to continue to have."

Photo radar came under fire immediately after it was signed into law in 2008 by Gov. Janet Napolitano. Critics complained that its primary goal was to produce revenue for the state. They also challenged the legality of tickets mailed to registered car owners.

Many of the tickets were ignored.

People who have court dates after Thursday on a photo radar ticket may get a break, said Phoenix attorney John Rhude.

While Redflex has indicated it still will help prosecute accused speeders, Rhude said, "Their relationship with the Department of Public Safety is over on the 15th... If the contract is expired, our position at Corso & Rhude is that they no longer have authority to be in court. They're no longer a representative of the state, they no longer are an entity of DPS, working with DPS or for DPS."

Exactly how the photo radar cameras will be shut off Thursday was not clear. DPS referred questions to the governor's office, which referred them back to DPS.

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