Council committee endorses contract for installing red-light cameras

By LYNN HORSLEY The Kansas City Star

Red-light cameras are finally poised to get the green light in Kansas City.

Two years after the idea first surfaced to catch red-light runners at dangerous intersections, a City Council committee on Wednesday endorsed a contract with American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz., to install 12 cameras throughout the city. The full council will vote on the contract on May 1.

“We are ready to roll on this,” said Cathy Jolly, chairwoman of the Public Safety and Neighborhoods Committee. “This is about making sure our city is safer.”

If approved, the cameras should be installed by this fall, predicted Dan Reeb, senior business development manager for ATS.

The cameras would be distributed equally throughout the city, but would initially affect only a tiny fraction of the 600 signalized intersections on city streets.

Reeb said St. Louis started off with 10 cameras in February 2007 but quickly ramped up to 40 after the program’s first year. He said several hundred communities throughout the country now have red light camera programs.

Violators in Kansas City would get the equivalent of a parking ticket. The violation would carry a $100 fine, but no points off a license because it would not be considered a moving violation.

City prosecutors had recommended that the cameras take pictures of both the rear license and the driver to bolster the case if an accused violator challenged the ticket in court. But the committee said the photo of the driver would add needless expense for extra cameras, and other cities with similar programs only photograph the rear license.

Reeb said the program would involve an extensive public relations and education campaign, and warning signs would tell drivers when they were approaching an intersection with cameras.

“This is not a gotcha-type program,” he said.

ATS will put up the money to install the cameras, and there is no up-front cost to the city. The company gets paid back $4,500 per month per camera, with the proceeds coming from fines levied against violators.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/v-print/story/589252.html

4/24/2008

To reach Lynn Horsley, call 816-234-4317 or send e-mail to lhorsley@kcstar.com.

www.kansascity.com | 04/23/2008 | Council committee endorses contract for installing re... Page 1 of 1

Council committee endorses contract for installing red-light cameras