No WhiteWash!

Speed cameras burn in UK and Tennessee while an Arizona photo radar van mysteriously crashes.

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.

“There’s a lot of wiring in that vehicle, and there’s a chance it wasn’t arson,” Mount Carmel Police Chief Jeff Jackson told the Kingsport Times-News.

There is no question that vigilantes were behind ten attacks on speed cameras in Dorset, England in the past year. Automated ticketing machines in Ferndown, Bear Cross, Longham, Verwood and Three Legged Cross have all been burned, the Bournemouth Echo reported.

Even a fake speed camera has felt the wrath of vigilantes. Former police officer Bill Angus, 64, constructed a faux automated ticketing machine and mounted it outside his home in Sunderland, England. Angus was upset last week when his false device was smashed with a hammer.

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. The Australian company has issued no statement on the cause of the van’s destruction, but the anti-photo organization offered the suggestion that perhaps another of the company’s employees has been driving under the influence of alcohol. Roderick Ruffin was charged with DUI in 2008 while behind the wheel of a Redflex van.

via Arizona, Tennessee, UK: Speed Cameras Catch Fire, Crash.

Largest photo enforcement vendor reports that opposition groups have cut into company profits.

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.

“The business, particularly in the US, has become more difficult over recent years, and the results reflect the influence of a range of adverse issues and circumstances on the business, including… the rise of opposition from various groups opposed to photo enforcement, resulting in challenges to programs through citizen initiated referenda,” a company statement explained. “A state wide ballot initiative [in Arizona] could result in negative impact.”

To date, citizen groups nationwide have succeeded in putting the question of photo enforcement on the ballot in nine cities. All nine voted to ban automated ticketing, with margins as high as 86 percent against the cameras (view list of cities). The largest citizen-led revolt so far is happening in the state of Arizona where the group CameraFraud.com has used a continual stream of protests, a Facebook page and other techniques to educate drivers that citations mailed from the program could be thrown away, unpaid. Only personally served notices are valid in the state. Redflex reported that the Arizona program so far has lost $4.9 million..

“Citation payment rates remain low due to the inability to achieve acceptable payment rates from violators,” the company explained. “Our push to reform the laws governing traffic enforcement with the Arizona Legislature and with the Arizona Supreme Court makes 2010 a critical year for our Company in Arizona…. Once corrective legislation is passed payment rates are expected to rise to the average historical payments rates typical for the Arizona business model.”

Discontent with photo ticketing has spread nationwide as politicians fear they may lose their jobs if they are responsible for bringing cameras into their community, although Redflex suggests the recession may also play a role.

“The rate of new contract signings has clearly decreased since a year ago,” Redflex admitted. “It is not clear at this stage whether this is driven by the economic environment, by the level of opposition, or by a slowdown in the rate of growth in the industry as a whole.”

A number of cities that use Redflex or a competitor have dropped the use of automated ticketing machines entirely. In California, Maywood and Moreno Valley dropped red light cameras while Loma Linda and Upland discussed the possibility of doing so. Avondale, Arizona and Dalton, Georgia also canceled their programs.

“As has been experienced over prior years, there is no guarantee that all contracts will be renewed at completion of their base contract term,” a Redflex statement explained. “Some cities have decided not to continue, and we have experienced early shutdowns in two cities.”

The company’s other major financial burden has been a lawsuit filed by American Traffic Solutions has cost Redflex another $1.3 million (more info). A shareholder revolt also cost the company $197,000 in expenses related to a change in the board of directors. Source

via Red Light Camera Giant Redflex Loses $8 Million From Opposition.

Straight through violations drop 92 percent after yellow lights are extended by one second in Loma Linda, California.

Dr Rhodes RigsbyRedflex Traffic Systems of Australia succeeded last week in blocking efforts to end red light camera ticketing in Loma Linda, California. While several members of the city council expressed a desire to uproot the automated ticketing machines, Redflex insisted that could not be done unless the city paid $534,558 in early termination penalties. The council declined to take any action at its February meeting.

The problems began after the city extended the duration of yellow lights in November. This engineering enhancement reduced the number of straight through violations to drop to near zero with the consequence that only citations for rolling right-hand turns remained. With a pricetag of $456 for each of these citations, the council had been hit with complaints about such a stiff fine for a type of violation that does not cause accidents.

"I have received a number of complaints and emails from individuals," Councilman Ovidu Popescu said. "They teach you in business that for one complaint, that’s at least ten individuals who are very upset."

Popescu and Councilman Rhodes Rigsby led the charge to terminate the camera contract immediately because the program enraged constituents without providing any safety benefit.

"I’m not sure the statistics when it comes to auto accidents — it doesn’t show a decrease in accidents," Rigsby said. "If we’re going to fine our visitors and our citizens $12 or $14 million over four years, we should at least expect a safety benefit, and I just don’t see it."

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."

Councilman Floyd Petersen wanted to know why city staff never tried lengthening yellow before.

"Councilman Rigsby brought up the issue and pushed on it really hard," Petersen said. "We have a whole profession out there called traffic engineers. We pay these people a lot of money to figure out the best way to set up the lights. Where are these people? Why haven’t they ever suggested lengthening the yellow light? What’s the deal? They aren’t being paid off by the camera people, are they?"

City staff defended the idea of keeping the cameras and endorsed short yellows.

"If you lengthen the yellow light, you reduce the green light," Public Works Director T. Jarb Thaipejr said. "So then I will get a call from someone who said, “I waited so long at the red light";” The whole idea of traffic engineering is to move the traffic."

Popescu vowed to bring early termination to a vote next month. The contract will expire on its own in December.

via California: Longer Yellows Nearly Eliminate Violations.

As Tennessee lawmakers question whether photo enforcement companies should be regulated, a pending court case could decide the question.

As members of the Tennessee General Assembly consider whether to impose new regulations on photo enforcement vendors in the state, a pending court challenge seeks the enforcement of existing regulatory statutes against the firms. The state House Transportation Committee yesterday held a hearing that examined how Lasercraft, a company based in Bridlington, England, operates red light cameras on behalf of the city of Knoxville. State Representative Ben West, Jr. (D-Hermitage) questioned why this company is not regulated by the state

Read more via Tennessee: Camera Company Challenged on PI License Issue.

Below is from The Show blog.  Be sure to tune in to every Monday and Thursday from 6-8pm for the radio talk show.  See The Show blog for more details.

Are we going to have anyone showing up? We need bodies there arguing our case against these things.  Now is the time to do it.

KINGSPORT — The Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen will again discuss the controversial red light camera system during a work session Monday afternoon, with some city leaders saying they hope to put the issue to rest once and for all.

Kingsport has no plans to do away with the cameras, especially since the city went out to bid on the system — Redflex may get its contract renewed, or a new company could come in

Much of the recent discussion has not dealt with whether or not Kingsport should keep the cameras — city leaders agree on Kingsport keeping them — rather the talk has been about the $100 fine and whether Kingsport could lower the amount for court costs.

City Attorney Mike Billingsley has told the BMA reducing the court costs for just the red light camera fines would be unconstitutional. In addition, Kingsport is under contract with Redflex through the end of the year, which includes where the fine money goes.

“I don’t know how much leeway we have to change (the fine),” Mallicote said. “My preference would be to go to a somewhat reduced fine, but I can’t see any way of doing that, if we assess court costs. I don’t see any way to get there.”

Full story

From a article from Nov 7th shows Knoxville does not impose a court cost. So my question how can this non-uniformity in law and fines be constitutional?

“To be honest, once we heard (City Attorney Mike) Billingsley’s opinion on the applicability of court costs in all cases, I think that took the issue off the table for me,” Mallicote said, referring to Knoxville’s lower ticket price. “The reason Knoxville’s is less is they don’t assess court costs. Mike said he thinks that’s unconstitutional, so that’s the end of the story.”

Story

City council in Maywood, California decides to stop using Redflex to run a red light camera program.

The contract was with Redflex Traffic Systems and the proposed contract language below would impose a financial penalty if the city chose to extend the duration of yellow times.  Click on the link below for the entire article.

According to the proposed contract language, cost neutrality would not apply “if the signal amber timings at the photo enforced intersections are not set to the minimum requirements of CalTrans in California.” In the past, photo ticketing companies prohibited the increasing of yellow warning times to ensure maximum revenue. If strictly interpreted, this provision would have the same effect by imposing a financial penalty if the city chose to extend the duration of yellow times.

Read more via Maywood, California Dumps Red Light Cameras.

Below is a horror story concerning red-light-revenue-cameras.

Oregon’s red-light camera law violates a basic tenant of the American legal system: It allows prosecutors and state courts to convict people without their knowledge.

That might be OK if all that was at stake was a modest fine, but people unaware that they’ve convicted face substantial penalties for failing to respond, including significant financial costs, suspension of their driver’s license and even arrest.

I live in Maine. Several weeks ago I received a call from someone working collections for Multnomah County. He said I owed the county $353. I was baffled.

It took some time on the phone to sort out what he was talking about. Apparently, while visiting Portland two years ago, in May 2007, I was photographed running a red light. Read more…

Tennessee Court of Appeals issues a second opinion affirming its support for red light camera ticketing.

Tennessee Court of AppealsThe Tennessee Court of Appeals reiterated yesterday that constitutional protections do not apply to anyone mailed a red light camera citation. In a three-page decision, a three-judge panel unanimously rejected the challenge mounted by Joshua D. Kimsey, the recipient of a $50 ticket from the Australian company, Redflex Traffic Systems. Redflex accused Kimsey of a violation that took place in Knoxville, but Kimsey refused to pay the fine and instead filed motions to have the case transferred to a criminal court. A municipal court denied the motions. A circuit judge declared the photo ticket a valid “quasi-civil matter.” The appeals court agreed, summarily dismissing the idea that all constitutional guarantees should apply to photo tickets.

Read more via Tennessee Appeals Court Reiterates Its Support for Red Light Cameras.

Public complaints force Livingston Parish, Louisiana to refund 2488 tickets issued at unfair speed camera trap.

Motorists caught in a notorious speed camera trap on Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish, Louisiana had their tickets canceled last month. After numerous public complaints, officials were forced to admit 2488 citations were unfairly issued between January 26 and February 5, according to the Baton Rouge Business Report.

Read more via Louisiana: 2488 Refunds from Unfair Speed Camera Trap.

It seems that folks in Jonesborough, TN have banded together and will have a protest concerning enforcement revenue cameras.

To the Students of American Liberty,

We will be holding a protest against the Red Light Scameras in Jonesborough. (We will have setup in the morning and the event will start at 10:00 am)

We will have a petition to sign to deliver to the Mayor and Alderman, an opportunity for you to take out your frustrations against a “scamera”, as well as some other fun activities.

Please feel free to invite as many people to this event. We want it to be a great success. This will be a family event.

Hope to see you all there!

In Liberty,

Joanna Simmons

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2009
Time: 8:00am – 7:00pm
Location: Jonesborough Town Hall
Street: 117 Boone Street
City/Town: Jonesborough, TN

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