The Collin County Observer

News, Analysis & Opinion for Collin County

Red Light cameras - Safety or Profit

11/13/07

09:36:47 pm, by bill

, 354 words,

Categories: News Clippings, Observer Opinions, Mobility

Red Light cameras - Safety or Profit

The November issue of the RTC's newsletter, Legislative Directions printed an article on local experiences with red light cameras that should lay to rest any idea that red-light cameras are not meant to be a profit center for cities.

Now remember, the RTC (Regional Transportation Council) is the local board that approves transportation projects in the North Texas region. These guys see roads, not as a public necessity, but as an opportunity for profit. They've yet to meet a toll road they didn't love or a highway they didn't want to pawn to the highest bidder.

"The city is planning to scale back the project just to break even. In the future, the project might be canceled all together if it begins to lose money."

When was the last time you heard that a cop had to write enough tickets to make his shift profitable? Or that fire trucks had to recoup their own costs? Cities provide police and fire departments for public safety.

They deploy red light cameras for profit.

Bill

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From Legislative Directions -

Red-Light Cameras: Victims of Their Own Success

"As many as 20 North Texas cities have approved red-light camera programs and many have already begun to install cameras at select intersections.

The goals of these programs are two fold:
1) increase safety by reducing the number of red light violations, especially at the most dangerous intersections, and
2) raise money to fund the programs making them at least revenue neutral.

The City of Garland, which was the first Texas city to install cameras four years ago, has learned that success with one of these goals can lead to problems with the other. Garland’s program generated about $1.3 million in 2004, the program’s first full year.

Drivers soon became used to the cameras and violations declined. This victory for safety has become a problem for a program that costs the city around half a million dollars per year to operate. In 2006 the program only generated $546,599. The city is planning to scale back the project just to break even. In the future, the project might be canceled all together if it begins to lose money."

Permalink 3 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: anoyomus [Visitor]

That's pretty disgusting but not suprising in the slightest. All politicians can hear is the cash register

Permalink 11/14/07 @ 15:46

Comment from: joejaynes [Visitor]

· http://www.joejaynes.com

Bill,

As a member of the RTC, we do everything we can to insure we have as many “free” roads as possible in the region. The idea to use red light cameras was not an RTC decision. It was a decision made by the local cities themselves.

We have also met bidders that we didn’t like—just ask Cintra. The RTC meets the second Thursday of every month at the COG offices in Arlington. I would invite you to attend a meeting as my guest so you can learn more about this organization.

Thanks,

Joe

Permalink 11/15/07 @ 08:40

Comment from: bill [Member]

Joe,

I know the RTC is not responsible for red light cameras. But their publishing the article does illustrate the current thinking of drivers as revenue.

I have grave issues with the current transportation policies of Bush's DOT, Perry's TxDOT and NCTCOG's RTC.

I have real issues with NCTCOG becoming a public advocate for CDA Managed Lanes and toll roads. They act like lobbyists for TxDOT, Cintras and the NTTA. I was appalled at the alarmist and untrue predictions by Michael Morris, NCTCOG's Transportation Director during the SH 121 debate and during the recent Dallas proposition election.

I don't believe the RTC is representing the interests of the middle class driver.

I would be happy to visit with you at any time to discuss these.

Bill

Permalink 11/16/07 @ 01:06