LA could join backlash against traffic cameras

DAISY NGUYEN, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Officials expressed doubt Wednesday that the City Council would take the rare step of intervening in a police oversight board's decision to discontinue the city's red-light traffic camera program.

If city officials decide to let the Police Commission's decision stand, Los Angeles will become the largest U.S. city to join a national backlash against photo-enforcement programs.

"If you got a program that's not making money and is marginally successful, why would you continue to do it?" asked Councilman Greig Smith, who heads the council's public safety committee.

"There's not a lot of support on the council for it," he said.

The commission unanimously rejected on Tuesday a proposal from police officials to award a new contract to American Traffic Solutions Inc., a Scottsdale, Ariz., company that operates cameras at 32 city intersections, over two other bidders.

The Police Department had recommended signing a new three- or five-year contract, despite a city resolution banning doing business with Arizona companies because of the state's controversial immigration crackdown.

Assistant Chief Michel Moore said he respects the commission's decision but maintains the cameras have reduced accidents and saved lives.

Critics, however, dispute the safety data and say the program is not cost-effective.

Councilman Dennis Zine, a former traffic enforcement officer who has been critical of the program, noted that the majority of the red-light camera citations were for making right turns without a full stop.

Those types of violations "don't kill people," Zine said.

"It becomes all about raking in money, not about saving lives," he said.

An audit last year found that most citations have gone uncollected because the local courts refuse to place a hold on the driver's licenses of violators who fail to pay their tickets and prevent them from renewing their licenses until they do. Instead, operating the camera program, coupled with the lack of revenue, cost the city $2.5 million over a two-year period, the audit found.

A police report presented to the commission noted that a proposed state law that would make it easier for drivers to contest their red-light tickets by requiring more police work "could result in revenue reduction."

"That's just unacceptable given the fiscal crisis the city of L.A. is facing," Commission President John Mack said. "The program would generate money for the contractor but at a loss for the city and that did not fly with us."

Mack said the City Council has yet to reject a commission decision in the six years he has served on the civilian board. Even if 10 of the 15 council members vote to do so, Mack said the council can only provide suggestions and kick the decision back to the commission for reconsideration.

Moore said the cameras will stop operating after the city's current contract with ATS expires at the end of July.

Nine states - Arkansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wisconsin - have banned red-light cameras and several others have passed laws limiting the use of cameraenforcement, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Meanwhile voters in more than a dozen cities have passed referendums banning the cameras.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.