Politics & Government

Mayor Halts Red Light Camera Citations in St. Pete

St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster is imposing a moratorium on red light camera citations immediately in response to Pinellas County Clerk of Court Ken Burke's concerns about flaws in the system.

In response to Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke's concerns regarding flaws with red light camera systems in St. Petersburg and five other Pinellas cities, Mayor Bill Foster has imposed a moratorium.

Beginning immediately, the mayor has suspended issuing uniform traffic citations to persons identified in sworn affidavits submitted to the city within 30 days after the date of notification as having care, custody and control of the motor vehicle involved in the red light running citation, according to a press release.

Last week, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke wrote a letter asking St. Petersburg and five other cities to stop writing tickets for red light violations, arguing there are flaws in the system and that his office is spending a disproportionate amount of time dealing with the fallout from violators.

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"These citizens are upset with the poor communication, insufficient information and resulting unfair penalties," Ken Burke wrote in a letter dated Feb. 20 to city leaders in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Gulfport, Kenneth City, South Pasadena and Oldsmar.

More than 80 municipalities in Florida currently operate red light camera
programs to reduce dangerous incidents of red light running.

"St. Petersburg will work with County Clerk of Court Ken Burke, our fellow
Pinellas municipalities and the Florida League of Cities to resolve Mr.
Burke's concerns by suggesting modifications to the state legislation during
the upcoming Legislative Session and by making changes to the wording of the
city's notice of violation," said Foster.

Foster also said he continues to have great faith in the effectiveness of
the city's "Stop on Red" campaign and plans to continue the use of red light
cameras in St. Petersburg, according to the city's release.

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Foster last week put a red light camera expansion project in St. Petersburg "on hold" after concerns that yellow lights at intersections in the city are too short. The city had been planning to add nine cameras, increasing from 22 to 31.

The Arizona company that provides red light traffic cameras for St. Petersburg and more than 70 municipalities around Florida is fighting back against recent attacks on the legality of the technology and its use to catch violators.

In a news release sent Wednesday, American Traffic Solutions points out five court rulings that have upheld the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, which cleared the way for municipalities to use red light traffic cameras.

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