Fox Files Investigator Chris Hayes Crunched The Numbers
By Chris Hayes Reporter

August 18, 2011
ST. LOUIS , MO (KTVI-FOX2Now.com)—
More people appear to be speeding after a speed camera went up on a road off Interstate 70. This comes at a time when more cities are considering using cameras instead of cops.

Cool Valley installed a speed camera about 9 months ago. Cool Valley is a small town of just more than a thousand people. It's near the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Right after the speed limit drops from 35 miles an hour to 30 (going South), you'll pass the camera cop. The Fox Files wanted to see how it's impacting you. First, the numbers show more people are speeding since it went up
The first full month, November 2010 = 498 citations. ($11,822.62 Net $ to City). The latest month with data, June 2011 = 841 citations. ($21,435.70 Net $ to City).

I requested numbers from the nine months since the camera cop started clicking. City records show it issued a total of 4,740 citations. About half the violators are paying (2388).

The revenue is still considerable for a small town. 60% goes to the city. 40% to the private contractor that supplies the camera. Cool Valley's take = about $15,000 a month so far. (That's more than $150 per resident, each year. But resident Rodney Green still doesn't like it.

Green told us, "My biggest concern is, don't use the camera trying to get out of trying to make less work for yourself."

Mayor Viola Murphy said it's not costing police jobs, just freeing them up for other services. She believes the camera is sending a message to speeders.

The Mayor said, "They are fussing about it, which if i get one I'm going to fuss too, but that's still my responsibility, because I was the one driving the car."

Schools surround Florissant road, but you won't see school zone signs or flashing lights, only a pedestrian sign.

I asked Mayor Murphy, "Why not ask MoDot for some help with signs, maybe a bike lane, other ways to get people to slow down." The Mayor responded, "Those are things to be considered. Tight now we feel that this is the best way for safety."

MoDot had no say about the camera because it's not on the State's right of way. It's on private property. Barely.

Mayor Murphy said, "That's being proactive." Hayes, "How so?" Mayor, "It goes back to 3-4 incidents. Now how many people do we need to get hit? How many people do we need to get killed?"

Mayor Murphy's message usually comes back to the same point -- if you don't like it -- don't speed.

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