Would Ending Red Light Camera Program be a 'Bargain'?

James C. Walker, president of the National Motorists Association, a nonprofit group that protects driver rights, shared his thoughts regarding Clearwater's chance to get out of a contract for its red light camera program.

In light of Pinellas County Clerk of Court Ken Burke asking Clearwater and other cities to stop issuing red light camera violations, officials looked to see what it would take to get out of the contract with Redflex Traffic Systems.

Canceling the entire contract by July 1 would cost $54,000, according to city records. Here's what Walker had to say on Patch:

"If Clearwater can end the contract with Redflex for only $54,000 dollars, it would be a terrific bargain. 

Red light camera tickets strip over $100 per ticket from the Clearwater economy which damages employment and economic activity throughout the Clearwater area. 

AND the cameras do not improve safety as much as simply adding one second to the yellow intervals on the traffic lights. 

The metric of a 15% reduction in violations is utter nonsense. You can almost always get a 60% to 90% reduction in violations by simply adding one second to the yellow intervals. The 15% number is a trick by Redflex to set up a metric that is obtainable with virtually no effort and no real safety results. 

Clearwater should drop the cameras, increase the yellow intervals by one second, and keep hundreds of thousands of dollars circulating in the Clearwater economy over the next ten years. 

If you agree, call your local council officials to insist the camera program be ended and the yellow light intervals be lengthened by an average of one second to improve safety overall." 

The cameras were installed in July 2012 and warnings were issued to violators. Red light running violations at intersections with cameras have decreased each month since fines started to be issued with an exception in December.

After hearing a report on the camera program, city leaders decided it needs more time and will hear another report on the system's safety and effectiveness in six months.

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