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If you don't stop at Hillsborough red lights, then smile for the camera
Hillsborough gives a go-ahead for cameras that catch red-light runners at big intersections.
By Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer
Published March 7, 2008
Red light camera photos provided by American Traffic Solutions, Inc. showing an incident at a traffic light Arnold, Mo.
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[Handout]
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TAMPA -- The wrong Kodak moment will soon cost red-light runners in Hillsborough County a $125 fine.
County commissioners hopped on the latest trend in traffic policing Thursday when they unanimously agreed to install cameras at major intersections.
Commissioners say they believe the devices will dramatically cut down on catastrophic car accidents.
"I'm convinced that red-light cameras will save lives," said commission Chairman Ken Hagan, who proposed the idea.
The county may bring in extra money, to boot, though commissioners said that is not their motivation, even in these tight economic times.
"That's not the message I want to send," said Commissioner Rose Ferlita.
Hillsborough joins more than 300 cities in two dozen states that use cameras to catch what backers describe as an "epidemic" of red-light runners. Currently, two other Florida cities, Gulf Breeze in the Panhandle and the Orlando suburb of Apopka, have installed them.
Officials in both cities credit the cameras with sharply reducing red-light infractions once drivers get used to their presence. Clearwater, Temple Terrace and Port Richey are heading down the same road, and the state Legislature is looking at making it easier to install them.
With their vote, commissioners dismissed studies that suggest the lights lead to more rear-end collisions, caused when drivers make sudden stops to avoid getting busted.
Mike McCarthy, the county's director of traffic services, said the uptick tends to be short-lived. And he said the accidents tend to be less damaging than the classic T-bone wreck seen when someone runs a red light.
"The hope is that rear-end accidents would be less severe than angle accidents," McCarthy said.
A public hearing on the ordinance drew two speakers, one opposed on safety grounds. The other raised a constitutional concern over how a person might challenge a citation, given that a camera can't answer questions and might malfunction.
"Big Brother will be violating our constitutional right to privacy with no possibility to question the accuser," said Charles Smalling, a Hillsborough County cab driver.
The cameras likely will be installed at 10 to 12 of the county's busiest or most dangerous intersections. Companies that provide the cameras could play a role in selecting the intersections, to ensure they get their money back.
That's because, depending on the contract struck, some companies may provide the cameras for free in exchange for a cut of the fines collected. Or, the Sheriff's Office could decide to pay a flat fee to avoid accusations of profiteering. Thursday's vote clears the Sheriff's Office to seek offers.
Cameras will take images of cars and their license plates, but not the people in them. A Sheriff's Office employee will review video of possible offenders before issuing a citation.
Exceptions will be made in some cases, including for drivers clearing a path for emergency vehicles. Car owners will be cited, but can avoid a fine if someone else was driving their car, provided they identify the driver.
Infractions will be treated like parking tickets rather than a moving violation given when police officers issue red-light tickets. But the citations will be public record, open to insurance company scrutiny.
There will be an initial 60-day warning period after the first cameras are installed. When fines kick in, they will escalate in $75 increments after the second citation, up to a maximum of $500. Appeals will be heard by a hearing officer.
"These are great tools for law enforcement," said Commissioner Kevin White, a former deputy and Tampa police officer. "I don't look at it as Big Brother. If you're doing the right thing, you should have no problem."
Bill Varian can be reached at varian@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3387.
[Last modified March 6, 2008, 23:56:13]
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Comments on this article
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by Daniel
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03/07/08 05:33 PM
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This is an act of excessive contol by the elected. They are quick to waste money for kickbacks but the Stanford study showed by extending the time on a yellow light by 1 to 1.5 seconds reduces RED LIGHT runners by more than 50%. Who are they fooling?
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by Dan
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03/07/08 05:29 PM
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This is more of our freeedoms & liberties being removed. "Those who will give up freedom for security deserve neither". Ben Franklin. Democracy is the vilest form of govt. 51% removes the rights of 49%. A Republic 99% cannot remove the rights of one.
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by PCH
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03/07/08 05:12 PM
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The only people this will stop are the ones who stop anyway - look both ways - and then proceed through a red light. The ones that just "run" the red lights will continue to do so. Bottom line - it's all about the $$$.
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by Vance
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03/07/08 12:55 PM
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I visit your County regularly and I am back in April. We in the UK have these and millions of more cameras all over our roads and towns. They have not been shown to reduce accidents but do make a lot of money for the local council.
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by JV77
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03/07/08 12:23 PM
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Rafael, could you be more wrong? Intrusive to those driving within the law? Wow. These are needed EVERYWHERE. I would hope that they would also make the yellows longer. That way people will have enough time to slow down before the red.
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by Leo
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03/07/08 11:35 AM
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New York City has had them for over ten years with no problems from the Liberal
Politicians and cops/fireman don t like them due if they get stopped running a red light they just show their Police ID and are free to leave.
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by johnm59
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03/07/08 11:08 AM
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all the people opposing are the ones doing it,BOO HOO,I guess your going to have to start obeying the laws,to bad ,the lives saved could be yours or your children,so put that in your pipe and smoke it,CRY BABIES
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by Rafael Martinez
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03/07/08 10:39 AM
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Camaras at intersections is intrusive to those that are driving within the law. Why not put more Police and Sheriff Deputies on the road. This is all about the revenues lost by municipalities by the property tax annendment just voted in.
Payback WOW
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by Jon
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03/07/08 09:58 AM
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What percentage goes to a private company? These cameras are a money grab, it's shameful.
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by John
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03/07/08 08:07 AM
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Glad to see them being installed. The ones who oppose security for not breaking the law are the ones who must be breaking it. Obey or pay.
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by Shan
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03/07/08 07:44 AM
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The vendor had BETTER not be paid on a per-catch basis. Flat fee. Will yellow lights suddenly become shorter? Oh, and can people who get rear-ended sue the state? I'm now fearing my 1st accident in 35 years of driving, plus raised auto ins. rates.
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by Larry
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03/07/08 07:41 AM
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Stephen has it right. It's not about safety, its about income. No politician is going to raise taxes, the only way to add revenue is through fines and fees. New laws with financial punishment will be created here and around the State.
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by Steve
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03/07/08 07:34 AM
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Don't be fooled! I used to sell red light camera systems for a division of ACS. It is all about the money. Case in point- No system will be placed in low income demographic area, as they are produce lower fine yields. It is a racket!
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by russ
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03/07/08 07:00 AM
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blah blah blah,,, it's all about the $$$$$$,,, and to get everyone used to being watched by the government all the time on every corner.
Tampa welcomes Big Brother.
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by Carl
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03/07/08 06:48 AM
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Aside from the fact that this is a clever way of getting around a state law prohibiting the use of these cameras, what happens if the driver of the car running the red light is not the owner? Who gets the ticket (oops sorry! I mean the fine!).
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by Mark
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03/07/08 06:32 AM
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No one is at liberty to drive through red lights. But we are at liberty to pass through intersections without fear that some malfunctioning or tampered piece of equipment will mean that we are faced with a charge we can't fight. It's a racket!
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by Stephen
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03/07/08 04:41 AM
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Lets see the 10 most busiest, not the most unsafe. Yea right it is about safety. The systems needs violations to be profitable. Why else do you see them being used at intersections with high violation rates usually the result of short yellows!
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by Tracy
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03/07/08 02:54 AM
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The idea of a red light camera means well but be prepared for an increase in rear end accidents. In Guilford County, NC, they had to remove all the cameras since it cost too much to run and took the proceeds away from the intended benefactor, schools
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