[Nfbf-l] Red Light cameras rules changed

Sat Jul 9 04:08:00 UTC 2011

But the not so good news is they are no longer stopping people who turn 
right on red without coming to a full stop. If you read the entire article, 
you will see that several of the criteria have changed and it makes things 
much more dangerous for us.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kirk" <kvharmon54 at gmail.com>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 7:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Red Light cameras rules changed

This is awesome! eventually as more and more people get cited for this
infraction the goosier the drivers will become about driving through
intersections and it should slow down the violators. KH

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherri" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 1:22 AM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] Red Light cameras rules changed

Please note the following article from last Sunday's Daytona Beach News
Journal. Did our red light camera resolution ever get sent out?

Sherri Brun

GOTCHA
Red-light camera revenues rising

By EILEEN ZAFFIRO-KEAN
STAFF WRITER

eileen.zaffiro-kean @ news-jrnl.com

DAYTONA BEACH - Since early April, about 8,800 people have opened their
mailboxes and found $158 citations for blowing through red lights in Daytona
Beach .

Another 25,000 drivers accused of doing the same thing on Palm Coast roads
over the past three years have been hit with the same bad news.

The cameras that have been recording videos of vehicles sailing through red
lights have quickly become the bane of some peoples' behind-the wheel
existence, and there have been attempts to get rid of them through lawsuits
and state law changes.

But as much as some drivers have come to loathe them, not only are they not
going away any time soon, they're mushrooming.

Daytona Beach is expanding its camera-monitored intersections from five to
eight, and probably adding at least a few more after that. Holly Hill put up
the cameras at three intersections a few weeks ago, and plans to add two
more intersections.

In about two or three months, DeLand will have red-light cameras installed
at three intersections. Palm Coast has cameras at five intersections.

Daytona Beach , which is averaging 137 violations per day, expects to net
$1.1 million by the end of its budget year Sept. 30. Palm Coast has netted
$1.35 million since its cameras were turned on in July 2008.

DeLand and Holly Hill don't have estimates yet for how much money they'll
make.

The state gets $83 from each $158 citation, and cities have come to
different agreements with equipment providers on what the municipalities
will pay each month for cameras. In Daytona Beach , where there are 14
cameras at five intersections so far, the city pays its vendor $4,600 per
month per camera.

Daytona Beach has grossed nearly $503,000 since its program started April 4,
but has netted $121,000 after paying the state and vendor.

POLICE: NO HARD LINE ON RIGHT-ON-RED

Area police chiefs bristle at accusations that the cameras are easy
moneymakers for cities and won't make the type of people who run red lights
behave. They say they're in it to save lives and reduce accidents.

They cite statistics and studies they say show the cameras do make people
stop. The cameras also give them a new tool to see exactly what happened
during a crash at an intersection.

Local chiefs say they're going to give people some leeway, and not issue
fines if motorists stop but their wheels roll onto or slightly over the
white stop bar.

Police in Daytona Beach , Holly Hill, Palm Coast and DeLand also say they're
not going to ticket people who turn right at a red light if they don't come
to a complete stop but their speed stays low. Cameras record drivers' speed,
and Daytona Beach will give a free pass to people traveling 14 mph or more
slowly, said Police Chief Mike Chitwood.

Holly Hill Capt. Steve Aldrich said he didn't want to publicize what the
threshold speed is there. DeLand is still deciding on its limit.

Palm Coast Code Enforcement Manager Barbara Grossman said if drivers take
care when turning right on red they would not be cited. But she also said a
red light means you have to come to a complete stop.

''Really, the way the state law is, you pretty much have to be careful and
prudent,'' Grossman said. ''If we are looking at an intersection and we see
someone who has slowed down, their brakes are on, and they are going through
in a prudent and careful manner then they would not receive a ticket. But if
they blatantly go through and make a right on red then they would receive a
ticket.''

Chitwood said his goal is to get people to drive more safely.

''My thing is I want you to think,'' the chief said.

Aldrich said he's seen ''some real crazy stuff,'' including drivers who blew
through lights 10-20 seconds after they turned red.

''How do you do that?'' Aldrich asked. He's also seen near misses between
cars that are ''scary when you watch it'' on video.

''Hopefully this will bring safety to peoples' minds,'' he said.

After the Daytona Beach cameras have been up for six months, the city will
do a study in part to see what type of impact they're having.

The cameras have not been welcomed with open arms in many places they've
landed.

'BIG BROTHER' CHALLENGED, BUT LIKELY HERE TO STAY

Palm Coast was among a number of cities sued by the West Palm Beach law firm
of Schuler Halvorson & Weisser over the use of red light cameras. In the
Palm Coast case, the firm was representing William G. Mayfield, who lives in
The Hammock. Although the city and attorneys for Mayfield agreed earlier
this year to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice, the lawsuit could be
refiled.

A few weeks ago, a Broward County judge ruled that the $158 fines that come
with cameraaided citations are unconstitutional because drivers who get
caught disobeying red lights by officers patrolling the streets pay $264 -
and get four points added to their license. No points are added for
violations captured on camera. On Wednesday, the state attorney general's
office filed an appeal of that judge's decision. A few local police chiefs
say they're not worried about the difference in fines and don't plan any
changes.

Sgt. Joe Heller is the person who fields complaints and questions from
people nabbed by cameras in Daytona Beach .

''It hasn't been that bad with complaints,'' Heller said. ''Only one or two
have just been over the top.''

One man felt he had been a responsible citizen here for 50 years, and didn't
deserve a citation even though he did run a red light, Heller said.

Heller said he stresses to people they should think of a yellow light as
something giving them time to stop, not a cue to hit the gas.

He said he's also had to explain to people that if they don't pay up the
camera fine will grow to $264 after 30 days, and eventually their license
could be suspended.

But the good news, he tells them, is if they pay off the fine it will never
show up on any driving records and won't impact their insurance. And
exceptions are made for people whose cars are stolen, or who don't have a
current address police can find.

People who don't like the cameras have no choice but to accept them,
Chitwood said.

''From a certain perspective Big Brother is watching you,'' he said, ''but
the cameras are here and you have to learn to deal with them.''

Staff writer Frank Fernandez contributed to this report.

Photo Below: A motorist is busted at ISB and Nova Road .

Photo below: Vehicles roll through the yellow light as southbound traffic on
International Speedway Boulevard at Nova Road approaches the intersection
and its red-light cameras Friday.

News-Journal/ DAVID TUCKER

________________________________________

Sherri Brun
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." John
Lennon

Check out http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun

E-mail: flmom2006 at gmail.com
 NFBF Newsline® chair
www.nfbnewsline.org
Vice-president NFB Greater Orlando Chapter
http://nfbfgoc.org
Secretary FDCP INC
www.fdcp.org
Chair Orange County Disability Advisory Committee

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