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. See the red-light video
	[Handout]

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]