Red Light Cameras Survive City Council Vote
Despite one councilor's efforts to end the contract for the red light camera program in St. Pete, council voted to keep the 22 cameras at intersections in the city.
Following a heated debate, St. Petersburg City Council voted 5-3 Thursday to keep the red light camera program, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Councilor Wengay Newton made a motion to end the contract with American Traffic Solutions, the camera vendor, with Councilor Leslie Curran making a second, according to WTSP.
"I think it's time for the council to invoke the only power we have," Newton said, according to the Times.
The discussion came up after Mayor Bill Foster imposed a moratorium last week in response to Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court Ken Burke's 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.
During the meeting Councilor Leslie Curran agreed with Newton and said the program is a money machine for ATS, according to the Times.
"They aren't so concerned to save lives and alleviate crashes. They're concerned for the number of dollars they can put in their wallets," said Curran, according to WTSP.
Mayor Bill Foster said he wanted to keep the program and plans to work with state lawmakers, WTSP reports. "We're gonna work with the legislature and certainly advocate two positions. One — don't kill the program because it does work, but two let's fix the inequities in the existing statute," said Foster, according to WTSP.
Council voted 5-3 to keep the cameras. Councilors Wengay Newton, Leslie Curran and Steve Kornellthe were the only members to vote to end the contract.
For now, the mayor's moratorium for people who appeal their citations under certain circumstances remains in effect.
Related Coverage:
- Mayor Halts Red Light Camera Citations in St. Pete
- Red Light Camera Company Fights Back Against Florida Critics
- Pinellas Clerk Asks St. Pete to Stop Writing Red Light Camera Tickets
- Red Light Cameras: Should They Go?
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nic weathersbee
11:07 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Thank you Wengay Newton, Steve Kornell, and Leslie Curran for making the right decision here. Hat's off to you three. I was very nearly killed by a red light runner in 2007, and no camera would have helped me. It would have simply taken a pic of me flying through the air. I was motorcycle against car, no braking, at 50mph. Miracles do happen!
Jerry Kendall
12:00 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
How anyone on the City Council can still say that red light cameras are for safety is beyond comprehension. Surely, they can not really believe that. The facts are that accidents have gone up - not down. The companies putting these in are all about revenue. Yellows are oftened shortened to help aid that mission. At least be honest and say it is for revenue purposes when you vote for these things and do not insult our intelligence by mouthing safety platitudes.
Patriot
5:13 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
These cameras are a sham! I will leave my tailgate down on my truck and run every light i want! They can kiss my azz!
Rider
5:30 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
What's the alternative, folks, to get people to stop running red lights so much? It's an epidemic...
michael galbreath
7:47 am on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Dump the cameras!!!!