Photo-based traffic enforcement in Arizona raises protest among citizens
Many cities in Arizona, especially the Phoenix area, are turning to photo-based traffic enforcement systems to more or less cut down on the need for street police. When caught by a camera, you’re mailed tickets for minor traffic and speed violations instead of being pulled over. The move is stirring controversy among residents, and protests have already begun.
According to local news site; KTAR.com- a protest group and website; camerafraud.com, held a protest today on a prominent corner in Scottsdale, AZ targeting the two companies that provide the photo equipment to municipalities and the state of Arizona. American Traffic Solutions is one company, but the one really under fire is Australian-based Redflex Group.
D.T. Arneson of camerafraud.com has gone as far to say Redflex "conspired with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to use non-certified radar guns in two mobile van units." The DPS took the vans out of service promptly, and Redflex almost offered to pay the nearly 5,000 tickets that were given using the improper radar guns. "It got to the point where Redflex offered to refund over 4,800 tickets, then later agreed with DPS that it wasn’t necessary because it was an ‘honest mistake,’" Arneson said. "I don’t think a violation of due process is an `honest mistake.’"
The real problem lies in the fact that photo radar doesn’t catch the real violators that are doing serious things behind the wheel, and instead just enforces basic traffic laws and minor speeding violations. While it’s effective in ticketing nearly anyone that goes over the speed limits- and generating revenue for the city, it doesn’t catch things like drunk drivers, or track down stolen cars like police units can. "If someone ran a red light and they were drunk or high, and they went to the next light and slammed into your car, that ticket in the mail is not going to help you out very much," Arneson continued. This is the reason groups like camerafraud.com want cities to replace photo-enforcement with more police officers to patrol the streets.
The first time I visited Arizona, I found it very strange that there wasn’t a huge police presence, and that while driving at night and you violate the speed limit or run a stop sign- a huge camera mounted on a pole would snap your photo accompanied by a bright flash. My first thought was that fact that a big part of doing traffic stops was to check warrants and other things, or so I thought, but with photo-enforcement it doesn’t happen. What it does, is generate a huge source of revenue for the cities and state, which I understand is desirable, but I still think the old way is better.
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August 23rd, 2008
The Cameras are a straight out fraud…
I would say sue the cameras companies and the state but they are all one and the same. Same thugs running different schemes.
The courts are just a big a fraud just different actors.
The solution is not suing and nor putting it up for fraudulent diebold vote but deny them the very thing that they need to survive and that it cash and credability.
They only have one of these elements as we speak and when the other is removed….. and it will be, they will disappear, it’s just that simple!
August 23rd, 2008
Even tho’ it’s a growth industry, I think camera company stocks are a bad investment. The companies may have to make big refunds in California, because many of the contracts they have entered into are alleged to violate the law barring compensation computed upon a percentage of the revenue from the court to the city hosting the cameras. (Cal. Veh. Code Sec. 21455.5(g))
Ed
August 24th, 2008
Ed brought up a good point. The state of Arizona has a judicial productivity cerdit system in place for judges. these are kickbacks. Their annual salery is determined upon the volume of, let’s say, traffic citation credits. They receive a percentage of the sum. In my book, Traffic Citation Scheme, there are several examples of kickbacks and bribes used in this traffic citation scheme in Arizona. This is the largest criminal theft in Arizona’s recorded history. It is not public safety, it is revenue generating!
February 22nd, 2010
Really good work about this website was done. Keep trying more – thanks!
April 9th, 2010
Hi, I got a notice of traffic violation in the mail running a red light. I was telling my brother about it and he said there has to be a pix of me and front and back plate on it. There is no front plate pix, does this mean I can fight it?
Thanks for all your help about this wonderous way the city keeps finding ways to make money off the system!
Truly,
Karen