PHOTOBLOCKER IN ST. LOUIS
MOBILETRAXX ELECTRONICS
Enter subhead content here St. Peters traffic
cameras could face own red light
By Tim Bryant ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Monday, Jan. 23 2006 ST. PETERS light runners. But pending state legislation could alter the plan before an electronic cop-in-a-box can nab its first violator. Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, is sponsoring legislation to bar cities from using "photo radar," or automated traffic control systems, to enforce traffic laws. Crowell said last week that he may relent if certain restrictions are put in place. "I believe, in the end, there is merit to using (red light) cameras, and I've always thought that," he said. "But there need to be some protections. There needs to be a statewide standard, much like there is a statewide standard for radar guns." violators. Less than two weeks ago, Crowell said he prefers red light camera videos to photos. Video evidence would excuse motorists who make legal right turns on red or who run lights to make way for emergency vehicles, he said. Fines become profits What especially alarms some municipal officials is Crowell's opposition to what he calls "contingency" deals, in which camera companies install and operate the systems in exchange for part of the money motorists pay in fines. Such deals, which are common, satisfy cities because they spend no money to build or operate the systems, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for just a few intersections. Typically, the cameras are set atop poles at an intersection. Cars entering the intersection against a red light trigger a computer to take two pictures. The first one shows the car entering the intersection. The next one shows the car in the middle of it. Crowell differs with municipal leaders who say the electronic devices are a cost-effective alternative to a police officer in a patrol car. St. Peters Alderman Jerry Hollingsworth, who this month pushed through his city's red light camera ordinance, said he cannot understand why Crowell cares if the camera company gets a share of the ticket money. "It makes no sense to me," said Hollingsworth, adding that the private company would be unable to alter traffic signal operations and that police officials would review the photos before issuing tickets. Alderman Randy Crisler of year, said the public has had "a mixed reaction" to the system but that he believes it will reduce the number of traffic accidents. He defended the city's agreement to pay American Traffic Solutions $31.50 from each $94.50 fine collected for traffic signal violations. Crisler said getting caught by a camera in stopped by a cop because photo-generated tickets are treated by the city as nonmoving violations and produce no drivers license points - and no insurance premium hikes - for motorists. "They're like parking tickets," Crisler said. Unlike the officials are unwilling "to infringe on civil liberties" by photographing drivers. He said that, privately, Attorney General Jay Nixon has softened on his position that red light camera photos cannot be the only evidence to cite drivers for violating state traffic law. A spokesman for Nixon said the attorney general's position remains unchanged. The spokesman added that Nixon had yet to take a position on Crowell's bill. Sheldon Lineback, executive director of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association, said his group supports use of red light cameras. People who run lights have no greater privacy claims than robbers who are shown in store surveillance videotapes, he said. Crowell has discussed his bill with the association, but Lineback said the group is staying out of the dispute over contingency payments. "Our focus is not on the financial aspects," he said. "Our focus is on reducing the number of accidents and injuries." As the number of camera systems rises nationwide, so do sales of a product meant to foil the cameras, the seller claims. A way around? In the last three years, than 500,000 cans of a spray it says makes a license plate so shiny a red light camera's flash makes the resulting photo unreadable. Joe per can - "is good for life" and is banned for sale only in York "We're not encouraging anybody to run red lights or encouraging anyone to speed," cameras make mistakes and that they can be rigged. If you have private interests coming in and setting these up, they're always motivated by the bottom line." plan to select one soon. Hollingsworth said a small system, which will show drivers but not passengers, could be operating this spring. He said an "intangible benefit" of the system will be reduction of road stress. Rush hour drivers seethe as they often must wait at a green light as three or more cars speed through on red, he said. "Guess what?" he said of the waiting drivers. "It's 7 in the morning and I'm hacked already." Joe Marketing Director www.PhantomPlate.com |