Posted on 12/10/2004 6:37:24 AM PST by Redbob
Red-light runners beware: Cameras soon will be watching in Denton.
The City Council this week approved a new ordinance for the installation of cameras on some streets to photograph cars that run red lights. The measure, similar to ones in Garland, Frisco, Richardson and Plano, aims to prevent accidents.
City officials will search for a vendor early next year to install and operate the system, and cameras will be placed at yet-to-be-chosen intersections by the end of 2005.
Violators will be mailed $75 tickets. For people with three or more violations, the ticket is $150.
"Hopefully the cameras will cut down on the number of people going through red lights, and cut down on the accidents we’ve had," said City Council member Jack Thomson.
Advocates for camera-based red-light enforcement note studies in other states that show up to a 60 percent reduction in red-light running accidents, but critics say the cameras intrude on privacy and are simply a revenue-generating measure.
No residents voiced opinions on the camera system at a City Council meeting this week.
Council members say the pros outweigh the cons.
Denton had 213 accidents involving red-light runners between 2002 and 2004 and police issued 2,354 citations for violations in that span, city statistics show. Cameras could reduce those numbers, said council member Bob Montgomery.
"It’s a reasonable way to enforce traffic rules that’s not too Big Brother," Montgomery said.
Here’s how the automated camera system would work:
With street signs warning drivers that an intersection is "photo-enforced," a pole-mounted camera would snap pictures of vehicles that run red lights.
A citation and photo of the violation would be mailed to the vehicle’s owner. Drivers can either pay the ticket or appeal to a city-appointed hearing officer. A car owner can sign an affidavit that someone else was driving the car, and that person then would be liable.
The citation is civil, not criminal, so it wouldn’t show up on a person’s driving record or affect car insurance rates, said Denton police Lt. Scott Fletcher.
"The goal is to eliminate violations and prevent accidents," Fletcher said.
While several attempts to pass laws that allow red-light cameras failed in the Texas Legislature in recent years because of privacy issues, a recent amendment allows cities to issue civil penalties based on camera-observed violations.
Garland used that rule to set up the first camera system in the North Texas area in September 2003.
It charges $75 per red-light violation caught on camera at four different intersections in the city. The city has recorded 29,000-plus violations.
Garland’s program prompted Frisco, Richardson, Plano and now Denton to advance plans for cameras at city intersections.
In Denton, finding locations to install cameras might be a problem because the Texas Department of Transportation doesn’t allow cameras at intersections on state-controlled roads. The majority of the city’s 101 traffic signals are on state roads.
So police identified the intersections of Eagle Drive and Carroll Boulevard, Bell Avenue and Hickory Street, and Bell and McKinney Street as potential camera sites.
More research on locations will be done before installing cameras, Fletcher said.
Each camera costs about $6,000, and the program would pay for itself from there, Fletcher said. If the program generates revenue, the money would go into a public safety fund dedicated to traffic improvements.
Overall, city officials laud the plan’s potential to bolster safety because cameras would monitor intersections 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"People will be a lot more aware," Thomson said. "It will be a big deterrent."
HOW THE STOPLIGHT CAMERAS WILL WORK
By the end of 2005, the city expects to install cameras to snap photos of red-light runners.
Here’s how it’d work:
A camera mounted at an intersection activates when a light turns red
The cameras takes a picture of a car that enters on red
A second picture is taken of the car’s license plate as it goes through
Embedded on the photo is the date, time, intersection, car speed, length of the light’s yellow interval and the length of time the light had been red at the time of the photograph.
If police verify a violation, a violator would be mailed a $75 ticket with:
An explanation of the violation
An 8-inch-by-10-inch photo of the vehicle in intersection
Tips for handling tickets and how to pay
A process to contest the violation
Third and subsequent violations would be $150.
But you see, it's not the state that's putting up the cameras - we've got control of them!
But a handful of power-mad liberals from the U. of North Texas run the city council here, and think they can fix anytyhing with a new law or two -- shoot, you'd fit right in!
Of course. But, the point was and still is -- is it really so difficult? -- you can't put them where you want to (even if you wanted to). With the right process and the right oversight, these cameras could do some good. But, your daddy in Austin won't let you do it. They hold all your cards.
But a handful of power-mad liberals from the U. of North Texas run the city council here,
So what? Vote them out or, if it's really so bad, leave them and their sorry POS town.
and think they can fix anytyhing with a new law or two
A new law or two? Who needs a new law? The real issue here is nothing more than enforcing that basic, fundamental law regarding a red traffic signal. Obey it, no problem. Run it, pay a fine. Is that so counter to your convictions? Are you one of those all-laws-are-bad-laws libertarians? (I knew one in college; he honestly believed there should be no traffic laws.)
shoot, you'd fit right in!
Hardly. But, if it makes you feel better to say that than to debate the real issue, go for it. I couldn't care less.
Coincidentally, cameras showed up at some busy, under-construction intersections right here in my town a few months ago. (Oddly, they were all aimed at approaching traffic; so, they couldn't be 'red-light' cameras, could they?) I called Traffic Engineering to find out why. They said they're there to help traffic flow during the construction, and would be monitored afterward to adjust traffic signal cycles.
A few weeks after the construction was done at each intersection, the cameras disappeared. If they hadn't, I'd be back on the phone or at a council meeting to find out what's going on.
I like to take action, rather than just sit on my arse and b*tch about things. I sure as hell wouldn't sit around and live my life subject to the whims of a bunch of liberal college pukes if I didn't absolutely have to. Surely there are some conservative jurisdictions in TX where they'd welcome you with open arms.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go time some yellow lights (just in case).
See you around. Have a good weekend.
Buncha anarchists.
Had a friend and his family "T-boned" by a red light runner(no insurance)in Dallas, where routinely 2 and sometimes 3 cars run a light after it turns red. I'm in favor of connecting a .50 caliber to the camera and shooting all the 3rd car drivers for starters!
"It's even sadder that you do not think about the consequences..."
Funny too how so many "law abiding" Conservaties spend so much time figuring out how to evade the law?
Not sure if it's a consequence of installing the red light cameras, but the light timing in Plano rocks. All the major streets flow quite nicely, especially during rush hour.
"It's even sadder that you do not think about the consequences of government micromanaging the lives of citizens in the name of "safety.""
One of the arguments for further gun regulation and immigration issues is that the gov't doesn't enforce the laws in effect now.
He we have the gov't trying to enforce current laws and the accusation is the gov't is unchecked and miromanaging?
Stay the hell outta my way and don't impose your liberal BIG BROTHER restrictions on the way I drive BUMP.
(Yeah - it's just too damn difficult to use judgement and avoid running red lights.)
The government is almost completely unchecked, and is most certainly micromanaging to generate more revenue. We do not, have not, and would never need a cop at every stoplight, so the pretense of a red light camera is bogus. However, people are willing to sell anything in the name of safety.
Yikes ping!
Take Loop 288 ... on the NORTH side though. It hooks up to I-35 and then you go south and you are on your way again.
Texas' most dangerous intersections
City Location State Farm Danger Index*
1. Plano State Highway 121 & Preston Road 1937
2. Addison Belt Line Road & Midway Road 1887
3.Houston State Highway 6 & Westheimer Road 1836
4. Austin U.S. Highway 183 & FM 620 1783
5. Dallas Frankford Road & Midway Road 1754
* The State Farm Danger Index is determined by the number of crashes at various intersections, how many of those crashes involved injury and the severity of those crashes. It is adjusted to account for the percentage of vehicles insured by State Farm in areas where the intersections are located. Updated 07/17/01
My guess, the cost of accidents far outweigh any revenue they can collect much less the lives that might be saved.
Legislative welfare to the insurance lobby? Now there's a good reason to have cameras watch our every move and mail us automatic violations. I care nothing about the profitability of an insurance company. There is a very easy way to avoid having to pay money out to claims : Don't be an insurance company. This is a poor excuse for police state statism.
"Legislative welfare to the insurance lobby?"
What are the COST if there is an accident? Is it not prudent to avoid cost.........which are passed along to YOU!
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