DENVER | A measure to ban red-light and speeding cameras in Colorado advanced Monday, but the proposal faces strong opposition from local governments and police.
A Senate committee approved the measure on a bipartisan 3-2 vote, referring it for a full debate in the chamber later. The idea to ban the cameras has been proposed before, but this is the first time the bill has passed its first committee. Legislative leaders are backing it, bolstering its chances of passing.
The bill would forbid cities and towns from using the automated traffic enforcement devices.
“These are about revenue, they’re not about safety,” said Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, one of the sponsors of the bill.
Ten cities use traffic-enforcement cameras. If the bill were to become law, they would lose about $16.1 million in revenue from fines during the first year the cameras are banned.
The Colorado Municipal League, which represents more than 250 communities in the state, says it should be up to cities and towns to decide the matter on their own, and that the cameras are important to public safety. Several police chiefs testified in opposition of the bill.
“It truly reduces total accidents,” said Cmdr. Dustin Varney with the Greenwood Village Police Department.
Ten states prohibit the use of photo radar or red-light camera enforcement or both, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
But traffic enforcement cameras are still widely used. According to the legislatures group, more than 400 communities in the country use red-light cameras, and more than 40 municipalities use cameras to enforce speeding limits.
Sponsors of the bill argue the cameras undermine drivers’ due-process rights to confront their accuser.
“I believe that individuals have a right if we are being photographed, we have a right to be stopped by an individual,” said Sen. Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, one of the bill sponsors.
Varney said the cameras are a useful resource for police departments that can’t have officers at every intersection. He said Greenwood Village uses the cameras in places they think they can help prevent accidents.
“We do strategically put them where we need them, not where we just want to put them,” he said.
He said people who are cited still have recourse and can appeal. Drivers can call the officer who approved the ticket from the camera, and they can go to the station to review the evidence captured on tape, Varney said.
“There’s been times we’ve dismissed (the ticket) right there because they’ve brought valid concerns,” he said.
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Read the bill:
Senate Bill 181: https://goo.gl/VybeAP
A study done in Ft. Collins, among other places, showed that rear end collisions increased at these intersections due to people slamming their brakes on in order to avoid a ticket. Shhhh….a little secret nobody wants you to know. 😉
Questions: How much of the 16.1 million dollars these cameras generate in fines is given to Chief Oates for his department? What does he spend it on?
Think about this too. If the red light cameras have to go, so will the photo radar vans. Wouldn’t that be a bummer Council woman Cleland?
Look, if public safety were the issue here and not just generating revenue in the millions, they’d increase by seconds the yellow light, giving extra time for the intersection to clear. The Virginia Department of Transportation already proved it.
In addition, you actually want fines that include points. Running a red light is a 4 point violation.Plus, your insurance rates go up. The recipient will have to take time out of their busy life and head to court for a reduction. I’d bet it’s rare a person takes the 4 points and pays a huge fine via mail.After going through all that, wouldn’t you be more alert and less heavy footed at intersections in the future?
These are money making machines. This isn’t about public safety at all.
Perhaps the money should be divided between the school districts in the state, and the police would get none of the revenue. I wonder how the law enforcement community would respond to this idea!