Fed-up with red-light 'scameras'? Start a revolution in your municipality!
Fed-up with big government bureaucrats using taxpayer dollars to install red-light cameras that will take more of their hard-earned money, citizens in Houston, Texas have launched an effort to let voters decide whether the cash-cow cameras stay or go away.
“A petition to ban red light cameras in Houston has been certified by the city secretary,” the Houston Chronicle reports, ”making it all but certain that voters will decide in November whether the 70 devices at intersections across the city will be taken down.”
Three Houstonian brothers spearheaded the anti-traffic camera petition campaign in an effort to let citizens — not greedy bureaucrats – determine whether the majority favors or opposes the devices. The Kubosh’s successfully collected 20,000 signatures as required and voters will decide the fate of red-light cameras in November.
“This is a great day for Houston,” said Michael Kubosh. “People just need a right to vote, that’s all we’re saying. Now the citizens will have a chance to decide.”
Standing in opposition to the Kubosh brothers’ efforts on behalf of 20,000 concerned citizens is an interest group that advocates Big Brother traffic cameras. Jim McGrath, a spokesman for Keep Houston Safe, claims the petition is “illegal and represents an abuse of the city charter amendment process.”
McGrath also claims that one of the Kubosh brothers, Paul, is an attorney who represents traffic ticket violaters/victims and has a “business interest” in the outcome of the proposed measure, should it be approved for inclusion on the ballot in November by the city council.
“Mr. Kubosh has repeatedly stated that he went to his own clients to sign his petition, so no one should be surprised that a traffic ticket attorney and the clients he has defended are against holding red light runners accountable,” McGrath said. “We’ll see what the council has to say and we’ll abide by their decision.”
First, McGrath should realize that it’s not only motorists who’ve already been nailed by red-light cameras that are fed-up with bureaucrats using them as cash cows to fix their broken budgets. Concerned citizens across the nation are opposed to the cameras that often have their yellow-to-red light timing set so quickly for sole purpose of cashing-in on more violators than a reasonably timed and unmonitored intersection traffic light would typically allow. (Most red-light camera foes reading this blog post know the dangers posed by red-light cameras, so we won’t delve in to details. Please comment below if you’d like to elaborate or share your experiences.)
Second, we applaud McGrath’s efforts to allow city officials to make their decision and step aside if the outcome does not favor his organization’s pro-traffic camera agenda.
However, we do wonder whether he and his cronies will take the city to court should citizens approve the ballot measure in November, just like the homosexual advocacy groups did in California when voters rejected the legality of gay marriage and insisted a court overturn the will of the people.
This effort in Houston to let the voters decide the fate of traffic cameras, whether they’re being proposed by bureaucrats or have already been installed, should encourage concerned citizens to follow suit in their own municipalities. Let’s call it the “Green Light Party!” Who’s on-board?
Related NSLF News:
Motorists Starting to Turn the Tables on Traffic Camera Cash Cows
Town Hits Jackpot with Hot New Red-Light Cams
Gadget Promises to Save Drivers from Red Light Cameras
Traffic Camera Victim ‘Pays Back’ Police Dept.
So, Mcgrath doesn’t like the fact that a traffic attorney and his clients have any say-so about the traffic cameras, thinking this should negate their opinions??? Sounds to me like the exact thing as the Dems getting input from the Mexicans about Arizona’s immigration laws. And putting them all over the news rallying against said Immigration laws. Be consistent here guys!
Oops- I meant enforcement of ILLEGAL immigration laws!
I definitely am on board.
Out here in the part of Kansas that I live in, the cameras are already installed but have not been turned on until the debate in city halls about them being invasion of privacy or not has been decided
They cost approximately $100,000 to install a single camera.
But on the other side of state line, in missouri they have the cameras installed on specific intersections and are turned on.
Keep in mind, that when caught by a Red-Light Spotter, you will receive a ticket in the mail, while some locations also send a picture of the drive to you as well so that you may contest it in court if you are not the driver.
Be that as it may, red light cameras are just another method for the government to be able to monitor and take control of our lives.
They are also in the process of getting an “Internet Kill Switch” which if approved, gives the president the ability to completely shut down segments of the internet for a period up to four months.
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The City of Houston’s own study showed that accidents literally doubled at intersections where the red light cameras were installed.
Not only are the cameras a violation of our constitutional rights to confront our accuser, due process, and privacy, but the Houston cameras also break Texas state law. In Texas, red light camera violation notices are required to contain language saying that “you cannot be arrested or have your driving record affected” because of a red light camera fine. But the Houston notices lack this legally requisite language so that they can collect more fines.
Furthermore, as the Houston media have extensively covered, the notices threaten to withhold Houstonians’ vehicle registration, an action which the City has no authority to implement. The notices are being sent from a private Arizona-based company under the heading “Houston Police Department – Phoenix, Arizona.” Obviously there is no Houston Police Department in Phoenix Arizona, which makes this an effort to collect a past due bill by pretending to be a government body or official – a crime under the Texas Fair Debt Collection Act.
The cameras need to go, and November 2nd, Houston will vote and undoubtedly get rid of them.
Houston Red Light Cameras and Proposition 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdK-vnDRzFA
Frequently Asked Questions
Proposition 3
Why are Intersection Safety Cameras needed?
Red-light running is the leading cause of urban crashes. Pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles account for about half of the deaths in red-light running crashes. (Source: http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/rlr.html)
Isn’t the main purpose of red light cameras to make money?
The objective of red light cameras is to improve intersection safety. Fines collected through red light camera violations are used to pay for the installation, operation, administration and maintenance of the photographic enforcement system. A portion of the revenue from the installation over and above costs is required to be directed to the regional trauma account and local traffic safety programs.
What are the financial costs associated with red-light running?
According to the Houston Galveston Area Council, the regional cost of red-light running is $225 million annually.
Are Intersection Safety Cameras an effective way to combat red-light running?
In May 2010, the Institute of Transportation Engineers Journal published an analysis of more than 20 separate studies that measured the effectiveness of intersection safety cameras. The authors concluded that the cameras “substantially reduce red-light violation rates and; reduce crashes that result from red light-running.”
Where are Houston’s Intersection Safety Cameras located?
The Houston Chronicle recently published an informative and interactive map at: http://www.chron.com/mm/ymap/lightcams/
Are my fellow Houstonians in favor of Intersection Safety Cameras?
Yes. A poll of 500 likely Houston voters conducted March 1-2, 2010, found that more than 71% of Houstonians believe intersection safety cameras make Houston safer, and two thirds (65%) support the City’s intersection safety camera program. The same poll also found that Intersection Safety Cameras have broad support across political, racial and socioeconomic lines in Houston.
Can I be denied my legal rights as part of this “automated” program?
No one accused of running a red light in Houston is denied their legal “due process” or right to appeal, nor are they denied access to an attorney if they want one. They may appeal their citation, in order, to the Houston Police Department, the municipal courts, and the county court system. The Seventh Circuit held that issuing citations to vehicle owners (or lessees) instead of the driver is constitutionally permissible.
What is considered running a red light?
Photographic evidence must show the car entering the intersection AFTER the light is red. No citations will be issued for vehicles entering the intersection on a green or yellow light, even if the vehicle is waiting for oncoming traffic to stop before completing a left-hand turn.
What is the review process?
Police officers review all potential violations. Officers watch the video of a vehicle running the red light and view the photos showing the light illuminated red both before and after the vehicle enters the intersection. If an officer determines the vehicle ran the red light, the officer verifies that the license plate matches the vehicle and all information is correct before issuing the citation.
Who benefits from the revenue generated from these programs?
Texas state law mandates that the fines paid go to fund (1) regional trauma care centers including Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann and (2) HPD traffic safety programs like teen driver safety campaigns, equipment and manpower to fight drunk driving, and school zone speed enforcement.
Can the City of Houston change the duration of yellow lights to get more violators and make more money?
No. The State of Texas sets the yellow light time cycle for every intersection in Houston. In the last year, the City went out and reviewed the 70 different “approaches” where intersection safety cameras currently exist, and they found only two such approaches where the yellow light was shorter than the state-mandated time – and those were corrected. They also found 38 approaches where the yellow light cycle was longer than the state standard, thus giving the benefit to the driver.
How do red light cameras work?
Red light cameras detect motor vehicles that pass sensors after a traffic signal has turned red. The sensors are connected to computers in high-speed cameras that take photographs of the violation. Depending on the particular technology in use at the intersection, a series of photographs and/or video images show the red light violator before entering the intersection on a red signal, as well as the vehicle’s progression through the intersection. Cameras record information such as date, time, and time elapsed since the beginning of the red signal. Trained law enforcement officials review the photographs, and a violation notice is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Where can I find the statute that allows for the installation of red light cameras in Texas?
Chapter 707 of the Texas Transportation Code establishes procedures for local entities that choose to use cameras to cite owners of vehicles that illegally run red lights. The statute also provides specific processes for implementing a photographic traffic signal enforcement program, imposing a civil penalty and creating a hearing and appeals process.
What are the requirements for cities wishing to install red light cameras in Texas?
Section 707.003 of the Texas Transportation Code addresses the installation and operational requirements, including contracting with a vendor, conducting a traffic engineering study, the selection of intersection approaches, the role of a citizens advisory committee and the installation of signs. The traffic engineering study may be conducted by using the sample TxDOT Engineering Analysis template.
Can red light cameras be installed on Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) roadways or on TxDOT right-of-way?
Cities may pursue the installation of red light cameras on TxDOT right-of-way through an amendment to the Municipal Maintenance Agreement (MMA). Cities without an executed MMA and counties, however, are not allowed to place the equipment on state right-of-way. Cities with an executed MMA must inform the local TxDOT district office of their intention to install the equipment. TxDOT has the right to review and approve the plans and inspect the installation even though it is a city contractor performing the work.
What is the format for the before and after crash data reports, as required by Section 707.004 of the Transportation Code, and how are the reports submitted to TxDOT?
The 18 months of before crash data and annual after crash data reports consist of a web-based reporting system where local jurisdictions enter the crash data for each intersection approach. Reporting requirement instructions have been developed and can be found at the TxDOT website.
Is there any requirement for the disposition of fines collected through red light cameras?
Yes. Section 707.008 of the Transportation Code outlines specific requirements for revenue collected through red light cameras. For questions on revenue required to be deposited in the regional trauma account or a local authority’s special account to fund traffic safety programs, contact the state comptrollers office.
Do cameras photograph every vehicle passing through an intersection?
No. Cameras are set so that only those vehicles that enter the intersection after the light has turned red are photographed. Vehicles entering the intersection on yellow, and still in the intersection when the light turns red, are not photographed.
Wouldn’t increasing the length of the yellow signal at an intersection decrease the occurrence of red light running?
Allowing adequate yellow timing can reduce red light running, but longer yellow time alone does not eliminate the need or potential benefits of red light cameras. Yellow times at signals are determined based on variables such as the posted speed limit, typical deceleration rates of vehicles, the grade of the road, and motorist perception-reaction time.
Will motorists know which intersections have red light cameras?
Section 707.004 of the Texas Transportation Code requires that cities install signs along each roadway that leads to an intersection at which a red light camera is in use. Two types of signs are currently available to comply with the new legislation and both are documented in TxDOT’s 2009 Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas (SHSD) manual.
The first and most common type of sign is the Photo Enforced symbol sign (designated as R10-19T). This rectangular-shaped sign was developed specifically for the advance notice of photo enforced intersections. Design details of the sign can be found on page 1-178 of the SHSD.
A second type of sign is the Signal Ahead symbol warning sign (designated as W3-3) with the PHOTO ENFORCED plaque (designated as W16-10) mounted below. The W3-3 warning sign is typically installed when there is limited sight distance on an approach to a signalized intersection. Installation of the W16-10 plaque below an existing W3-3 warning sign would result in compliance with the signing requirements for Red Light Cameras. Design details of the sign and plaque can be found on page 2-31 and 2-134 respectively in the SHSD manual.
Doesn’t placing signs on the approach to intersections with red light cameras defeat the purpose of installing the cameras?
No. The purpose of the red light cameras is to improve intersection safety by reducing the number of red light violations. If the advance notice signs stop motorists from running red lights rather than the cameras themselves, then the purpose of this program is being met.
Can the cameras be used to enforce other types of traffic violations (speed, railroad crossings, etc.)?
No.
I appreciated your post so much. I was heart broken to see the Red Light cameras voted down. The only people who didn’t like the cameras where the ones running red lights and getting tickets. They act like they catch people all the time. I have never had one red light ticket.
Is there a group I can participate in to help reverse this decision?