Posted on 08/08/2006 7:08:43 AM PDT by Xenalyte
Running a red light at 10 camera-equipped Houston intersections will cost $75 starting Sept. 1 — and there will be no warning period to get drivers used to the idea.
The Houston Police Department and Phoenix-based American Traffic Solutions are launching a public awareness campaign this month to let drivers know the much-discussed program is finally here.
"Our message is basically be aware," said Sgt. Michael Muench of the police department's traffic division.
"We're hoping that everybody should be watching the red lights anyhow, but this is going to be an added tool for us to try to change drivers' behavior and operate their vehicles more safety," said Muench, supervisor of the program.
When enforcement begins, fines will be issued without a grace period. There was some confusion about whether violators would receive warning letters as part of this month's awareness campaign, but that is not taking place, Muench said.
Warning letters were issued last year to violators during a trial phase of the cameras, before a contractor was chosen.
ATS is airing commercials about the cameras on several local radio stations and developing an educational brochure that will be printed in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
The city will take still photographs and video at the intersections and add 10 at a time until the 50 most dangerous intersections are monitored. Locations are being chosen based on crash data by a committee of representatives from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Rice University and the HPD Traffic Division.
The police department expects to release the second list of 10 intersections within the next few weeks, Muench said. That list will include major intersections owned by the Texas Department of Transportation, after Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott ruled in late June that the city could install cameras at those sites.
The first 10 intersections have changed slightly since being announced in June. Hillcroft at Westpark has been removed because the intersection belongs to Harris County, not the city. And for now, no cameras will be installed at Bellaire at Fondren and Bingle at Pinemont because construction there is ongoing or planned, Muench said.
Instead, cameras are being installed at Brazos at Elgin, Pease at LaBranch and Hillcroft at Richmond.
The project was stalled at City Hall for months by rejected contractors who said the vendor-selection process was unfair. Further delays were caused by engineering problems, Muench said.
Because the cameras are small and difficult to see, signs are being installed at intersections to warn drivers.
Each camera is mounted on a 20-foot pole built about 50 feet back from one corner of the intersection, said Jim Tuton, chief executive of ATS. The poles have a beige control box near the bottom, a camera about 12 feet up and a flash bulb at the top, he said.
The camera photographs the back license tag, not the driver. So a civil citation will go to the owner of the car and not necessarily to the person who drove through the red light. An owner caught on camera faces a $75 penalty. Getting caught by a police officer carries a maximum $200 fine.
Before camera citations are issued, taped violations will be reviewed by one of two police officers dedicated full time to the project, Muench said.
Critics of the program say it's an effort by the city to raise money. The Police Department says the goal is safety.
At Milam and Elgin, driver Stephanie Rayos agreed better enforcement could improve safety.
Rayos, 28, drives through the intersection weekly. "It's pretty busy here so it would be nice to get some control," she said.
Maybe THIS is their plan for getting people to abandon their cars and ride mass transit.
I will be telling one of the restaurants that I semi-frequent for lunch that I will not be a customer for much longer and that they can tell the city that I told them this is why. I will not risk a flakey system's ticket just to get a meal.
Gotcha - thanks!
Any sharpshooters handy who can "end" the program? LOL
civil violations to the owner,
translation- it is 100% revenue generators and NOT safety related.
Since it is the same as a parking ticket and does not affect the license, you don't have any due process rights.
IOOW you don't have due process to the government take money away from you. It is literally taxation without representation.
(where have I heard that before?....)
Just start a camera program filming the police in action.
Fox 26 used to do that and get shrugged off by the chief of police.
Want to make a bet the "reviewing officers" have a list of 'do not issue citation' people?
For a minute I wondered if Mayor White was a Republican would this have been possible. Then I remembered White getting pressure to drop the ideal so he drove to Austin unannounced to see Gov Perry in closed door meeting. After the doors open the program had the green light so to speak. The lines are blurred between Republicans and Democrats principles and the public is wisen up.
Uh, what if the owner of the car wasn't driving the car at the time? Do they still get the ticket? Way to go Houston.....I think they may need more Municpal Court space.
Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information.
It like a parking ticket you do not have due process of law. All the City needs is a larger mail box.
I bet after one year, there will be some crystal clear "reject" pictures of connected people. (commissioner sons, police officers, girlfriends, married cops with girlfriends in pictures etc)
This is going to be super selective enformcement.
(how many judges have you ever seen get a speeding ticket?)
Nope, he's a dyed-in-the-wool lib Demonrat. He also sent city workers to Nawlin's to see if some of our evacuee's houses were REALLY livable before shippin' em' back......well most weren't (so they say) and the city is into the millions of dollars owed to various hotels and apartment buildings for putting the evacuee's up with no end in sight and don't get me started on Perry. He's a Demonrat in Republican clothing.
It is not Texas anymore. This place is a shadow of it's former self.
I dunno Orange.........my son-in-law is a Houston police officer.........I'll ask him and get back to you. :)
Be interesting to here the response.
Any population that allows these cameras to remain in place takes what they get. There are a lot of ways to remove them.
These things are really easy to fake, anyone with a digital camera, a scanner and a bank account in the bahammas or elswhere can make a mint...
Incrementalism at its best!
I'm sure there will be some angles to pursue when you are rear-ended by the aforementioned rear-endy type driver...
I would like to sue the city for being complicite contributors to the vehicular assault upon my person...
The first 15-20 million dollar lawsuit should effectively kill the program...Or just pick a number...
Jim (the tough smart lawyer) Adler should be there in a few seconds to take care of you! And get you what you deserve! Minus his fee of course...
Howdy......well, I got the answer.........you can fight a red light ticket just like a parking ticket. That's why I said they'll need more court space.
Basically Houston has created a printing press.
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