ATS’ Newsletter, Vol. 5, Issue 11
Cameras Decrease Crashes at New York Schools
WNBC-TV NBC 4 (New York), Feb. 25, 2015
With a decrease in average monthly tickets generated by speed cameras in New York, and a decrease in crashes compared with last year, an I-Team analysis of New York City’s speed camera program shows indications of improving safety and driver behavior. (WNBC-TV NBC 4 images)
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Releases Red-Light Running Video
Jacksonville.com (Florida), Feb. 22, 2015
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Red Light Enforcement Program includes more than three dozen red-light cameras at intersections across Duval County. The sheriff’s office recently began sharing videos of select red-light runners on its YouTube page in a feature called “Red-Light Runner of the Week.” Here’s a look at some of the videos. (Image from Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)
Program Aims to Stop Speeding in School Zones
KVUE-TV ABC 24 (Texas), Feb. 20, 2015
Hays County officials approved a new plan that could cost drivers big bucks if they don’t slow down in school zones. County commissioners have contracted with American Traffic Solutions to provide two speed camera vehicles that would rotate among 15 Hays County schools to catch speeders. The vehicles will be visibly marked and prominently displayed. (KVUE-TV ABC 24 image)
Arizona Senate Defeats Bill Banning Red-Light, Speed Cameras
East Valley Tribune, Feb. 24, 2015
By a 15-13 vote Monday, the Senate killed legislation that would have outlawed photo enforcement of traffic laws. SB 1167 would have wiped out not just the automated speed cameras but also the cameras at intersections that catch those who run red lights.
Vote Returns Red-Light Safety Cameras to Fayetteville, N.C.
Morningstar, Feb. 24, 2015
Under the terms of an agreement approved Monday by the City Council, the city of Fayetteville will partner with American Traffic Solutions to launch a red-light safety camera program. … During the city’s previous automated enforcement program, side-angle crashes diminished 27 percent at the eight intersections with cameras.
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Sioux City Speed Camera Ordinance
The Gazette (Iowa), Feb. 20, 2015
The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday said local traffic camera ordinances in Iowa that hold the owner of a vehicle responsible for violations even if someone else is driving are not unconstitutional or in violation of law. The ruling addresses a fundamental design of the traffic enforcement camera industry as well as a complaint voiced by some in every community with the cameras in place. The Sioux City Journal reports the defendant has no interest in an appeal.
Pennsylvania Bills Allow Local Police to Use Speed Radar
Land Line Magazine, Feb. 25, 2015
Two Pennsylvania state lawmakers, Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Carrick, and Sen. Randy Vulakovich, R-Allegheny, are bringing back bills to allow local police to use speed radar. Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that prohibits municipal police from enforcing speed limits with radar. Since 1961, only state troopers are allowed to use radar.
American Traffic Solutions (ATS) is pleased to introduce Hays County, Texas, as its newest client. Under the terms of the newly struck agreement, ATS will work with the county to implement a school zone speed safety camera program for an initial term of 10 years with options for renewal. ATS is honored to be selected as the vendor for this program and looks forward to working with Hays County and all of its clients on their road safety camera programs.
Pennsylvania Turnpike to Crack Down on E-Z Pass Lane Speeders
KYW-TV CBS 3, Feb. 24, 2015
E-Z Pass has saved countless on-the-go drivers time at the tolls. But speeding through toll lanes has become all too common an occurrence. … Changes to slow drivers include issuing warning letters to speed violators, and repeat offenders could have accounts suspended or terminated. (KYW-TV CBS 3 image)
Automated Tolling a Part of New Scudder Falls Bridge
Times of Trenton (New Jersey), Feb. 23, 2015
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is moving ahead with the replacement of the Scudder Falls Bridge, the most significant step in the project in over two years. … As part of the project, a southbound all-electronic toll collection system will be implemented, consisting of high-speed E-Z Pass tag readers and video cameras to identify license plates from non E-Z Pass customers. There is currently no toll collected on the bridge. (Times of Trenton file photo)
ATS_RoadSafety Retweeted Sue Wintz @SueWintz Red-light camera ban died in AZ Senate yesterday. Daughter Sarah, bot row, #2, killed by light running adult.
NHTSA @NHTSAgov Don’t be an aggressive driver. Always obey speed limits, whether you’re late or not, keep a safe distance between… http://fb.me/1PljK7WA7
Commentary: Red-Light Camera Ban Dies
The Arizona Republic, Feb. 23, 2015
Attention: red-light runners. Not so fast. Sen. Kelli Ward’s attempt to make it easier for you to run red lights at your leisure without worry of getting caught went down in flames this afternoon — to her dismay. Four Republicans joined with Democrats to kill Senate Bill 1167, which would ban photo radar –(both speed and red-light cameras — in Arizona. … My congratulations to Sens. Bob Worsley of Mesa, Steve Pierce of Prescott and to Phoenix Sens. Nancy Barto and Adam Driggs for … opting on the side of sanity.
Editorial: Overturn Ohio’s Misguided Ban on Speed, Red-Light Cameras
The Blade, Feb. 23, 2015
Toledo officials announced last week that the city will file a lawsuit against the state of Ohio for its ban on traffic cameras set to take effect next month. The law would force Toledo to take down 44 traffic cameras that have proven to be valuable law enforcement tools. The court should strike down the state’s overreaching law.
Editorial: Law Will Make Streets Less Safe
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio), Feb. 22, 2015
Columbus drivers will need to exercise more caution at 38 busy intersections that used to be some of the city’s most dangerous — and, courtesy of the Ohio legislature, may become so again after March 23. That’s when the city plans to stop issuing tickets from red-light cameras under a new law that requires an officer to actually be stationed at the intersections. This mandate is so costly that it effectively serves as a ban, and a pointless one at that.
Letter: Stop, Don’t Ban Red-Light Cameras
Pekin Daily Times (Illinois), Feb. 23, 2015
Instead of an outright ban on red-light cameras in Illinois, lawmakers would be better off tweaking the rules about the cameras’ use or maybe adding some transparency requirements. Used effectively, red-light cameras can make the roads safer for the motoring public. This technology shouldn’t be taken away from every community because some communities are doing a bad job of using it.
“I had to get used to red-light cameras. I got one red-light ticket in my life, which was at Broad and Oregon, and I paid it and now my behavior is modified where if the light’s turning yellow, I brake instead of speed up to get through the light. People don’t like red-light cameras, but they are effective. … I think the red-light cameras have done a good job at modifying people’s behavior.”
Jim Kenney, Former Philadelphia Councilman and current Mayoral Candidate
Plan Philly (Pennsylvania), Feb. 23, 2015
“Red-light cameras … are designed to deter your high-speed collisions. When they run a red light … they’re typically doing 40 to 50 mph, and if they T-bone somebody, you get fatal injuries. You could still have significant property damage and some injuries as a result of a rear-end collision, but you very seldom ever have a fatal crash.”
Scotty Carrier, Lieutenant with the Johnson City Police Department
Johnson City Press (Tennessee), Feb. 23, 2015
“In my 25 years as a police officer, I have never seen such a single positive impact in changing driver behavior.”
Robert J. Christie, Police Lieutenant, Union Township traffic bureau supervisor, on the impact of red-light cameras
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com (New Jersey), Feb. 19, 2015
Colorado
Lt. Robert Rock, who leads the Denver Police Department’s Traffic Investigation Unit, said four locations with red-light cameras saw no crashes last year and in 2013 and only one in 2012. Source: The Denver Post, Feb. 25, 2015.
New York
An I-Team and WNYC review of tens of thousands of speed camera tickets issued in the past year in New York’s five boroughs shows the cameras appear to be reducing crashes. In areas where cameras operated consistently from September to December, the analysis found a 3.9 percent decline in crashes compared with the previous year. Citywide, crashes were up 0.6 percent. Violations decreased 58.7 percent. Source: WNBC-TV NBC 4, Feb. 25, 2015.
New York’s public radio station, WNYC, just wrapped up an analysis of the city’s speed camera system and found vehicle crashes with injuries near the cameras declined 13.4 percent. Source: DailyTech, Feb. 25, 2015.
Ohio
In 2012, six years after Columbus installed its first red-light cameras, the number of right-angle crashes at the monitored city intersections had dropped by about 73 percent. Source: The Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 22, 2015.