CURRENT NEWS - 2009 NEWS ARCHIVES
News
The latest headlines from the world of photo enforcement. Updated almost daily...
Spain, UK: Speed Cameras Self-Combust, Are Impersonated
Mar. 7, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
A speed camera van in North Wales caught fire last Monday at around 12:30pm...
In Ferrol, Spain a 24-year-old student mocked the overuse of speed cameras in the city last week by creating a "fixed mobile radar" costume...
Red-light cameras face legal challenge in New Orleans
Mar. 5, 2010 NOLA.com - ArticleExcerpt:
A decision by a New Orleans judge invalidating a red-light-camera ticket received by a local lawyer is threatening to deal another body blow to the city's already shaky finances -- though it might bring a smile to the faces of motorists sick of the devices.
The law says those affidavits may be provided by "a sworn law enforcement officer or the Department of Public Works," which administers the system of red-light cameras at 12 intersections and speed-enforcement cameras at another 13 locations, mostly school zones.
McMahon argued, and Reese agreed, that neither his ticket nor the supporting photographs were valid because no actual, named person stipulated that he or she witnessed McMahon commit a violation or properly authenticated the photos.
Missouri Supreme Court Strikes Down Red Light Cameras
Mar. 3, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
The supreme court of Missouri sent photo enforcement companies scrambling on Monday after it declared the red light camera administrative hearing process in the city of Springfield to be void. The high court moved with unusual speed, handing down a strongly worded, unanimous decision about one month after hearing oral arguments in the case.
Investigation after police speed camera van catches fire
Mar. 3, 2010 DailyPost.Co.UK - ArticleExcerpt:
AN investigation has been launched after a police speed camera van caught fire on a narrow lane in Gwynedd.
Fire crews were alerted to the blaze in Llanllechid near Bethesda just after 12:30pm on Monday.
Arizona, Tennessee, UK: Speed Cameras Catch Fire, Crash
Feb. 28, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
A speed camera van in Mount Carmel, Tennessee burst into flames at around 3am on February 21, burning down a barn near which it had been parked. Officials did not immediately blame vigilantes for the incident, instead suggesting the van, owned by Australia's Redflex Traffic Systems, may have caught fire on its own.
In Phoenix, Arizona, the group CameraFraud.com spotted the mangled wreckage of a freeway speed camera van being de-striped in the Redflex parking lot on Friday.
California, Missouri, Texas, Australia: Accuracy and Legal Problems for Speed Cameras
Feb. 27, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
A faulty camera sensor on Pittwater Road in North Narrabeen produced false readings and resulted in at least 900 innocent motorists receiving A$159 tickets in the mail.
Another refund may be on the way to South San Francisco, California residents. After having been forced to refund $1.4 million worth of tickets for failing to abide by state contracting laws in its deal with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to operate red light cameras, the city fell into a second legal trap.
An innocent woman in Queen Creek, Missouri was falsely accused of running a red light on January 17 in St. Peters, Missouri. Connie Buckallew received the $85 citation in the mail and noticed the car in the photo did not belong to her and that she could not possibly have committed the violation.
Speed fines refund after faulty camera find
Feb. 26, 2010 Manly Daily - ArticleExcerpt:
AT least 900 speeding fines will be cancelled after it was discovered a northern beaches speed camera, located on one of the state's most lucrative stretches of road, was delivering false readings.
Red Light Camera Giant Redflex Loses $8 Million From Opposition
Feb. 25, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
The number one speed camera and red light camera operator in the US today reported that its profits plunged by 32 percent in the first half of fiscal 2010, due in large measure to rising public discontent with automated enforcement. Redflex Traffic Systems told Australian shareholders that after adjusting for exchange rates, the company lost A$8 million, primarily as a result of citizen activists taking action against photo enforcement.
Busted: wrong woman ticketed
Feb. 24, 2010 KTVO - ArticleExcerpt:
Connie Buckallew of Queen City received an $85 traffic ticket in the mail Saturday morning.
It was from the City of St. Peters, Missouri stating that she had run a red light on January 17, 2010, and the offense was captured on a red light photo enforcement camera.
The Pontiac Grand Prix in the pictures is not Buckallew's, and it's clearly not Buckallew pictured in the driver's seat.
Cities Shortening Yellow Traffic Lights for Deadly Profit
Feb. 23, 2010 AlterNET - ArticleExcerpt:
"While several cities have been caught shortening yellow lights to increase revenue from red-light tickets," said Biller, "I think the larger issue today is that the duration of so many yellow lights has never been adequately set for optimal safety results. An increase of approximately one second can reduce the frequency of red-light-running by at least 50 percent."
Budget cuts force photo radar changes
Feb. 23, 2010 KTAR - ArticleExcerpt:
While criminal speeding used to carry fines of $235 and higher, all speeding tickets will now be treated as civil violations carrying a fine of $181.50.
Florida Court Rules Red Light Cameras Illegal
Feb. 23, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
A Miami-Dade County Circuit Court judge has ruled that red light cameras may not be legally used to issue traffic citations in the state of Florida. Judge Gerald Bagley yesterday dismissed charges against motorist Richard Masone who had received a red light camera ticket in the mail from American Traffic Solutions (ATS). The company operates the program on behalf of the city of Aventura.
Police toss some red light camera tickets
Feb. 21, 2010 Galveston Daily News - ArticleExcerpt:
League City police rejected 5,254 possible citations from Oct. 1 through Jan. 9. The police department did not give 3,322 vehicles a citation because they were photographed by the cameras making safe right turns at red lights. Police discretion also was cited as the reason why 220 vehicles photographed running a red light were not issued citations...
But Jessica Hernandez, 28, of Pearland, has some issues with the program. The League City Police Department sent her a citation for running a red light going east at the intersection of I-45 and FM 518 on Jan. 1 at 8:38 a.m.
"I was sleeping at the time," Hernandez said.
"And nobody was driving my car; my husband was at work," she said. "My car was with me that morning."
Lobbying intensifies in red light camera fight
Feb. 21, 2010 Daily Herald - ArticleExcerpt:
As the backlash against red-light cameras continues to mount, companies that profit from those $100 tickets have hired new ranks of lobbyists to convince state lawmakers to back off reform and repeal efforts.
Australia, France: Speed Cameras Attacked In Courts, On Roadside
Feb. 21, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
An Australian motorist turned the tables on officials last week with a court order in hand for the seizure of Victoria Police property over a bogus speed camera ticket he received in the mail...
In France, vigilantes were less successful this week. An attempt to destroy a speed camera...
Request to turn off red light cameras stalls
Feb. 20, 2010 Victorville Daily Press - ArticleExcerpt:
VICTORVILLE - Its going on three months since city officials suggested shutting at least half of Victorvilles 16 red light cameras down, and still residents keep coming home to find $446 tickets in their mailboxes.
With a largely disgruntled public, lagging revenue and data at several sites showing little impact on safety and traffic, Victorville has been trying since early December to find a way to turn some of its cameras off without violating its contract with Redflex, the Arizona-based company that installed and operates them.
Feds looking into Jefferson Parish traffic cameras
Feb. 20, 2010 Fox8Live.com - ArticleExcerpt:
A source tells Fox 8 News that federal investigators are looking into the red light camera program in Jefferson Parish and Interim Parish President Steve Theriot confirms the feds do have the documents.
Canada, UK: Automated Cameras Involved in Mistakes and Accidents
Feb. 20, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
Errors on the part of drivers, the police and the cameras themselves are causing problems. The camera software, for example, frequently is unable to distinguish similar characters such as the letter O and the number 0. Other errors can happen when drivers apply for insurance and accidentally transpose letters on their applications, causing incorrect data to be entered into the insurance database. In such cases, the automated machines will attempt to verify insurance coverage and wrongly flag the vehicle as uninsured. Police will pull over and attempt to issue a ticket to these individuals who would be put in the position of proving their innocence.
"Simple errors can result in a lot of wasted time and inconvenience for you, the police and your insurer -- quite apart from the risk of temporarily having your car confiscated," Douglas said.
California: Longer Yellows Nearly Eliminate Violations
Feb. 19, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
The council, on the other hand, was extremely pleased with the results of lengthening yellow lights by one second in November. The number of left-turn violations dropped 80 to 85 percent from about 240 monthly violations to about 25 or 30 a month immediately after the change. Straight through violations were reduced 92 percent.
"Lengthening yellow lights has produced a tremendous drop in violations," Rigsby said. "The statistics from January are very telling. For four intersections, there were five straight through violations in total. That is tremendous improvement in safety. We're talking about huge success of lengthening the yellow lights... We could have had that safety with lengthening the yellow four years ago instead of installing red light cameras."
Arizona Photo Enforcement Eases Slightly; "Criminal" Speed Violations on Freeways Now Deemed "Civil"
Feb. 19, 2010 Phoenix New Times - ArticleExcerpt:
The fastest drivers caught by freeway speed cameras in Arizona will be punished less, thanks to a policy change that halts the mailing of criminal speeding tickets.
Arizona speed cameras incite a mini revolt
Feb. 19, 2010 LA Times - ArticleExcerpt:
But since the Grand Canyon State began enforcing speed limits with roadside cameras, motorists are raging against the machines: They have blocked out the lenses with Post-it notes or Silly String. During the Christmas holidays, they covered the cameras with boxes, complete with wrapping paper.
Speed camera crusader John King granted Sherriffs warrant to seize police property, wants Simon Overland's desk
Feb. 18, 2010 Herald Sun - ArticleExcerpt:
AN ANTI-speed camera crusader has obtained a sheriffs warrant against Victoria Police because the force has failed to pay the court-ordered costs to him.
And he says he might just have to sell Chief Commissioner Simon Overland's desk to meet his costs.
John King was granted a warrant by the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court to seize police property after waiting nearly eight months for the force to comply with the $522 costs order.
Harlingen Getting Rid of Red Light Cameras
Feb. 18, 2010 KRGV - ArticleExcerpt:
HARLINGEN - After a heated debate, city commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday to get rid of controversial red light cameras. The cameras have monitored traffic violations at five of the city's busiest intersections since 2007. Motorists caught running red lights had to pay $75 tickets.
Arizona: City Dumps Money Losing Traffic Cameras
Feb. 17, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
Avondale, Arizona last week decided to terminate its contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) for the operation of red light cameras and speed cameras. The city council made its decision primarily on financial grounds after the program failed to deliver on its promise of enhanced safety and substantial profit. With Avondale facing a $3.8 million budget deficit, officials decided the cameras had to go.
SPEED CAMERAS 'CAN'T CATCH MOTORBIKES'
Feb. 14, 2010 Express.co.uk - ArticleExcerpt:
MOTORISTS have accused the Government of running a revenue- raising "scam" after a report revealed that "average speed" - cameras can't catch motorbikes.
South San Francisco to refund some red light fines
Feb. 14, 2010 MercuryNews.com - ArticleExcerpt:
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - South San Francisco police say drivers who received tickets for running red lights in the city from the middle of August through late January are due a refund because of a legal oversight.
New Mexico: Red Light Cameras Fail to Reduce Accidents
Feb. 12, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
Photo enforcement may not be improving traffic safety in Las Cruces, New Mexico. According to preliminary data presented to the city council on Monday, the installation of red light cameras and speed cameras in March 2009 has thus far failed to produce any statistically significant reduction in accidents. The city's public works department, in close consultation with Redflex Traffic Systems, did try to argue that the numbers showed the program was worth keeping.
Avondale trims more personnel, drops traffic-enforcement tools
Feb. 10, 2010 AZCentral.com - ArticleExcerpt:
To save money, the city also is terminating its contract with Scottsdale-based American Traffic Solutions, which operates traffic-enforcement cameras.
"Looking at the stats, there's no significant correlation between the number of accidents and the impact photo enforcement has been having on those wrecks," he said. "It's down all over the city. It's down all over the state."
Oregon, Germany, Italy, Poland, UK: Speed Cams Shot, Spraypainted, Stolen, Singed
Feb. 7, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
Vigilantes damaged a speed camera in Essex, England last Sunday at 9:40pm. The Thurrock Gazette reported that garbage piled on top of the camera was set alight, inflicting (US $11,000) in damage...
In Medford, Oregon, vigilantes shot a red light camera at the intersection of Barnett Road and Stewart Avenue...
Armed vigilantes used a shotgun to take out a speed camera in Sardinia, Italy...
Around midnight last Thursday, vigilantes made off with the speed camera on the ring road at via Marchioni in Rovigo, Italy...
Vigilantes in Lohfelden, Germany used spraypaint and expanding foam to disable a speed camera last Thursday...
Likewise, vigilantes in Czuchow, Poland covered a speed camera in white paint last week. Just one month ago, the same camera had been covered in blue paint..
Red-light running cameras flashing like strobe lights at some intersections
Feb. 6, 2010 MarcoNews.com - ArticleExcerpt:
County's red-light running cameras along Immokalee Road malfunctioned this week, flashing like strobe lights and confusing motorists.
Campaigns planned to ban traffic cameras in Cleveland, Garfield Heights
Feb. 6, 2010 Cleveland.com - ArticleExcerpt:
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Should ticket-generating cameras be used for traffic enforcement? That question may be put before Cleveland and Garfield Heights voters this fall.
Both communities could see ballot issues Nov. 2 to ban the use of red light and speed cameras. A mix of organizations and residents pledged Saturday to launch petition drives to rid the streets of the photo-taking equipment. They've enlisted the aid of a Cincinnati group -- the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes, or COAST -- already involved in three successful anti-camera campaigns in Ohio.
New DPS chief criticizes speed cameras
Feb. 4, 2010 AZCentral.com - ArticleExcerpt:
The Department of Public Safety's newly appointed director this week joined a growing chorus of powerful voices speaking out against the state's photo-enforcement system.
In interviews this week, Robert Halliday said that the system should be restructured if it's not scrapped.
Lawsuit targets speed cameras
Feb. 3, 2010 The Gazette - ArticleExcerpt:
Almost everyone who has received a ticket from a speed camera in Montgomery County is now part of a class-action lawsuit intended to change the way the county operates its speed camera program.
Attorneys say ticketed drivers will receive notice of the suit and will be able to opt out if they choose.
Loma Linda council members want to put brakes on red-light cameras
Feb. 3, 2010 Press-Enterprise - ArticleExcerpt:
Two Loma Linda City Council members have opened a new front in the battle against red-light cameras.
After Redflex Traffic Systems refused early termination of its contract to operate the cameras, Councilmen Ovidiu Popescu and Rhodes "Dusty" Rigsby want to tell San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies not to write tickets to motorists caught on the cameras making illegal right-hand turns.
Germany, UK: Speed Cameras Smashed and Burned
Jan. 31, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
Vigilantes burned a speed camera housing in Dorset, England last Tuesday at around 3am. A gasoline-filled tire was used to set the camera housing near the Bear Cross on fire, the Bournemouth Daily Echo reported. Officials claimed the camera housing was empty. Police have no idea who might be responsible.
Three of the five new column-mounted speed camera locations in Boeblingen, Germany were attacked last week...
Vigilantes in Osnabruck were able to destroy an older style of traffic camera last week...
South Dakota, Tennessee Consider Traffic Camera Bans
Jan. 30, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
A number of states are considering legislation that would outlaw the use of photo enforcement. Last year alone, Maine, Mississippi and Montana added themselves to the list of fifteen states where red light cameras and speed cameras are no longer welcome. On Thursday, the South Dakota House Transportation Committee will consider legislation introduced by state Representative Peggy Gibson (D-Huron) to make her state the sixteenth.
California Cities Dumping Red Light Cameras
Jan. 29, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
Moreno Valley, California dumps red light cameras while Loma Linda seeks to get out of its existing contract as soon as possible.
The allure of red light cameras has worn off in a pair of Southern California cities. In Moreno Valley on Tuesday, the city council voted 3-1 to shut down the automated ticketing machines that have been operating since 2008.
"If you look at the best studies nationwide, cameras either increase accident rates or don't change them, or have only sporadic decreases," Rigsby said. "When the data were presented from Loma Linda... they were not very compelling. Never once was there a mention of right-turn violations as being involved in a statistically significant number of the accidents. And if you think about it, most accidents aren't going to be from creeping around a right turn."
JP suspends red light cameras, looks to create IG's office
Jan. 27, 2010 WWLTV - ArticleExcerpt:
Wednesday, the Jefferson Parish Council passed an emergency ordinance, halting the red-light camera program.
Councilman Chris Roberts said he asked for the suspension to give the parish time to investigate the business affairs of the private company that manages the system.
Analysis: Cameras aren't changing habits of Sioux City drivers
Jan. 25, 2010 Sioux City Journal - ArticleExcerpt:
SIOUX CITY -- Thousands of red-light citations of have been issued since cameras where installed at Sioux City intersections six months ago, but a Sioux City Journal analysis of data provided by the Sioux City Police Department shows little change in driver habits over that period.
Speed cameras no deterrent to young
Jan. 25, 2010 Herald Sun - ArticleExcerpt:
MOST Victorians under the age of 30 say fixed and mobile speed cameras haven't made them drive any slower.
Fifty-one per cent of them said the cameras hadn't affected their driving speed, compared with 49 per cent of those in their 30s who said cameras hadn't slowed them down and 44 per cent of those aged 40 and over whose driving hasn't been affected by cameras.
Vigilantes Take on Speed Traps in Wyoming, Germany, Switzerland
Jan. 24, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
Vigilantes in Bad Harzburg, Germany set fire to a speed camera on Monday. The device, located on Bundesstrasse 4, was completely destroyed. Police have no idea who might be responsible for having destroyed this and a dozen other speed cameras in the area over the past few years, Hamburger Abendblatt reported.
In Landshut, Germany on Tuesday a man rammed a mobile speed camera radar unit while it was unattended on state road 2083. Police were able to track down a 55-year-old man and have accused him of destroying the equipment, Straubinger Tagblatt reported.
A video uploaded to YouTube last week appears to show a speed camera being dragged through the streets of Zurich, Switzerland after having been tied to a light rail system. The video provider explained that, "This speed camera gets a one way ticket to the end of the line."
Arizona, Hungary, Maryland, UK: Speed Cameras Plagued by Accuracy Problems
Jan. 23, 2010 TheNewspaper.com - ArticleExcerpt:
Speed cameras worldwide were plagued by accuracy problems this week. In Scottsdale, Arizona, a black man received a white man's tickets on five occasions.
In Chevy Chase, Maryland, WTOP News reported that hundreds of duplicate speed camera citations are being generated as motorists drive past a fixed camera and a mobile unit parked right next to it...
A similar problem is apparent in the town of Pecs, Hungary where a man received two speed camera citations for the same alleged offense...
In Nottingham, England, motorist Jeff Buck, 55, received two speed camera tickets while his car was parked outside his home on Watnall Road on December 13.
Speed cameras taking too many pictures
Jan. 22, 2010 WTOP.com - ArticleExcerpt:
CHEVY CHASE, Md. -- Nearly 200 duplicate speed camera photographs have been snapped in the Village of Chevy Chase since the beginning of the month, and there could be more.
Village Police Chief Roy Gordon tells WTOP that out of the 2,794 possible speed camera violations that have been taken since Jan. 1, 174 of them were duplicate pictures. Meanwhile, 1,090 potential violations are still being processed and could contain additional duplicates.
Audit: 'Only $37 million' raised from photo enforcement
Jan. 21, 2010 AZCentral.com - ArticleExcerpt:
The state Office of the Auditor General released a 20-page report examining the program, lawmakers discussed legislation that could alter the use of speed cameras on state highways, and a petition made its way to the Arizona Supreme Court that would allow mail delivery to do the work of process servers when it comes to delivering speeding citations to motorists.
All the discussion could be for naught, however, if the governor makes good on her stated intention to pull the plug on Arizona's photo-enforcement program when the contract expires later this year, then allow Arizonans to vote in the fall on whether photo enforcement should remain.
Mansfield axes red light cameras
Jan. 20, 2010 MansfieldNewsJournal.com - ArticleExcerpt:
MANSFIELD -- The proposed red light camera ordinance -- brought to City Council by police Chief Phil Messer -- was unanimously rejected Tuesday.
One camera system vendor, Redflex, sent a representative to Mansfield to argue the systems are constitutional and reduce traffic accidents.
State study disputes photo radar benefits
Jan. 20, 2010 EastValleyTribune.com - ArticleExcerpt:
Arizona's new statewide photo radar system isn't generating anywhere near the cash that was touted as violators can't be identified and citations remain unpaid.
And the Auditor General's Office, which conducted the study, also concluded there's no evidence it's actually achieved its other goal of making Arizona highways safer.
Council Rejects Red Light Traffic Cameras
Jan. 20, 2010 WMFD.com - ArticleExcerpt:
Mansfield City Council Tuesday night rejected an ordinance brought to them by police chief Phil Messer to install red light traffic cameras to help enforce traffic laws.
Brunswick dismantles traffic cameras
Jan. 18, 2010 iStockAnalyst.com - ArticleExcerpt:
Motorists traveling through certain intersections in the city may have noticed something different -- something missing.
For those who haven't, here's a hint: You no longer have to worry about what you're wearing or how you look if feeling rushed and having no time for yellow caution lights.
The cameras in the city are coming down. One already has.
Speed camera role doubted
Jan. 12, 2010 News.com.au - ArticleExcerpt:
POLICE speed camera initiatives to combat the road toll have been condemned by the National Motorists Association Australia.
State liaison officer for the association, Michael Bates, said official statistics showed that speed cameras did not reduce fatal crashes caused by speed.
He said the "latest" government report showed 52 fatal crashes were caused by speeding in 2004 compared with 51 in 1997, the year speed cameras were introduced.
Kirkby Lonsdale speed camera is sabotaged
Jan. 12, 2010 The West Morland Gazette - ArticleExcerpt:
A SPEED camera in Kirkby Lonsdale has been sabotaged, causing 30,000 (pounds) worth of damage.
Police are appealing for information after the permanent roadside safety camera facing Eastbound on the A65 at Devil's Bridge had its camera post cut, possibly by a portable grinder, overnight on January 9.
UK, Canada: Speed Camera Toppled, Van Driver Harassed
Jan. 10, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
UK speed camera fails to save itself from drunk driving accident. Canadian photo radar driver alleges harassment.
Red Light Camera Ticketing Company's No-Pay Threat Illegal
Jan. 9, 2010 The Ledger - ArticleExcerpt:
The red-light camera company contracted by Lakeland has been telling ticketed drivers a hold can be placed on their vehicle registration if they fail to pay their fine.
But a city spokesman said that isn't part of the city's agreement with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions.
But city spokesman Kevin Cook said the company's customer service employees misspoke, and Florida law doesn't allow that to happen.
Johnson: Speed camera revenues are 'just another tax'
Jan. 9, 2010 WTOP.com - ArticleExcerpt:
County Executive Jack Johnson calls the fines they would generate "just another tax."
"It's disguised as a fee and a fine, but it's a tax," says Johnson.
Speed sensors on red-light cameras could raise money fast
Jan. 9, 2010 LA Times - ArticleExcerpt:
Reporting from Sacramento - Speeding may be dangerous for drivers, but it could soon be a boon for California's fiscal health.
Tucked deep into the budget that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled Friday is a plan to give cities and counties the green light to install speed sensors on red-light cameras to catch -- and ticket -- speeding cars.
"This is a budget item for the state?" said Lew Uhler, president of the National Tax Limitation Committee. "This is totally reprehensible."
Viewer fights photo radar mistake
Jan. 7, 2010 AZCentral.com - ArticleExcerpt:
A month after Terry Fox traded-in a car back in 1999, he got a photo radar ticket in the mail. He contacted Scottsdale City Court and was told to send in a copy of his driver's license as proof it wasn't him in the photo. He never heard a word about the ticket again. Then, just a few weeks ago, he received a letter.
Terry says a court audit determined he had never paid the ticket and he owed $228. He went down to the court to explain again, 11-years later, that he wasn't the guy!
Accidents up despite Spokane red light cameras
Jan. 6, 2010 Seattle Times - ArticleExcerpt:
Intersections where Spokane installed red light cameras in 2008 in the name of safety saw an increase in crashes and injuries in the first year of the controversial program.
There were 38 collisions at the three intersections the year after the city began fining violators caught on tape. That's up from 32 the previous year, according to police collision reports provided to The Spokesman-Review.
Injury accidents at the intersections also rose from 11 the year before to 14 after.
Motorist takes anger out on photo radar operator
Jan. 5, 2010 Winnipeg Free Press - ArticleExcerpt:
WINNIPEG - A frustrated motorist caught by a photo-radar camera faces charges of uttering threats to kill.
Motorist rips speed camera out the ground
Jan. 4, 2010 UXBridge Gazette - ArticleExcerpt:
A SPEED camera in Hillingdon was ripped out from the ground by a disgruntled motorist.
The Gatso in Long Lane, Hillingdon, was ripped out presumably with the help of heavy machinery, and is lying prone on the side of the busy 30mph road.
Virginia DOT Defends Red Light Camera Study
Jan. 4, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
In 2007, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) performed one of the most comprehensive statewide surveys of the impact of red light cameras on safety. It caused quite a stir upon its release. The study took advantage of seven years' worth of data both before and after cameras were installed, examining a far more extensive dataset than most competing studies.
Despite the agency's best effort to present automated enforcement in a positive light, the unavoidable results were that, on a statewide level, accidents and injuries increased where cameras were used. This outcome has proved to be an embarrassment for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) which has been the primary organization generating research claiming that red light cameras improve safety. IIHS noted that VDOT essentially bent over backwards to accommodate the industry, but because the ultimate results were unfavorable, the VDOT report should be discarded.
Texas: Traffic Tickets Go Unpaid in Dallas
Jan. 2, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
Unpaid photo enforcement tickets have plagued private vendors like Australia's Redflex Traffic Systems, forcing the company to announce that profits have dropped by half. A report by the Dallas, Texas City Auditor released in March showed that municipalities are also feeling the pinch as four out of five motorists ignored municipal traffic tickets.
"Since FY 2002, the city has had a collection rate of 15.3 percent," Dallas Auditor Craig D. Kinton wrote. "In addition, the city has accumulated 1.1 million delinquent citations totaling $424.1 million in fines, court costs and fees. the probability of collection is substantially reduced because 78 percent or $330,767,771 is over one year old and has not been collected."
Florida: More Lawsuits Seek to End Red Light Cameras
Jan. 1, 2010 The Newspaper - ArticleExcerpt:
A class action lawsuit was filed Monday against Bradenton, Florida and American Traffic Solutions (ATS) seeking to end the use of red light cameras in the city. Attorney Jason D. Weisser challenged the program on behalf of motorist Jamie Rosenberg and all other recipients of $125 photo tickets since automated ticketing machines were installed in March 2008.
"This matter involves the unfair and illegal practices of the defendants, city of Bradenton and American Traffic Solutions, whose acts constitute unlawful business and reprehensible public policy practices," Weisser wrote in his brief to the court. "These practices have resulted in defendants' unjust enrichment, which is due to conversion of property belonging to plaintiffs and the deprivation of the plaintiffs' state, constitutional and statutory rights."