6 April 3 - 16, 2010
Traffic cam from Page 1
The measure passed by a 6-1 vote, and the contract extension had the support of City officials and the law enforcement community.
“The Chandler Police Department recommended we pick up the option,” reports police spokesman David Ramer. “It’s just one of the tools we employ to reduce accidents and make Chandler’s roads safer.” Recent data on road safety backs up the argument that cameras are making a difference.
“Accidents in Chandler are down 35 percent overall,” Ramer notes, “but they’re down 48 percent at intersections with photo enforcement cameras. Obviously, they’re having some effect.” Police reports on traffic collisions also show a decline in problems at individual intersections where the photo enforcement cameras are in use. “In 2006, there were 86 accidents at the intersection of Arizona Avenue and Ray Road,” says Ramer. “Last year with the cameras in place, there were just 37.” A similar decline in accident rates is evident at the other 11 photo enforced intersections, shoring up the claim that the cameras make SanTan Sun area roads safer.
Some say proceed with caution
Not everyone agrees that red light and speed cameras improve the roadways. Some worry they actually increase the possibility of problems as drivers divert their attention to trying to avoid being caught on film.
“I just throw up my hands and cover my face when going through a camera intersection in case the camera activates,” says Josh Smith of Andersen Springs. “That way they cannot identify me as the driver and the ticket becomes invalid. If anything, it
makes me more of an unsafe driver for the time my face is covered and my eyes are taken off the road.” Others worry that the focus of the program is not fewer accidents, but more revenue, and are concerned over the lack of recourse for those caught on camera. “This is about easy money, nothing more,” says Mike Miller of The Trails. “Every time the camera snaps, it’s ‘cha-ching!’ for the City. And how are you supposed to protest the ticket? You can’t question a machine, so you’re presumed guilty with no way to argue about what really happened like you could if a police officer wrote you up.”
Revenue ‘not significant’
City officials insist the photo enforcement program’s goal is to decrease the number of accidents at problem intersections and that generating money for the city is simply an added benefit.
“My experience is motorists drive more carefully and cautiously when photo enforcement is in service,” says former Chandler Mayor Jim Patterson. “If it brings in additional revenue, then that’s an extra great thing. After all, we all need to slow down on our streets and roads.”
Ramer echoes that sentiment and says last year the photo enforcement program brought in about $300,000 – not a significant amount in the city’s multi- million dollar budget.
“In 2008-09, we had an estimated gain of $299,670 from the photo enforcement program,” explains Ramer. “That figure represents gross revenue less the Redflex payment, city salaries and benefits to run the program. The real impact of this program is that it saves lives and improves road safety – not that it makes money.”
Miriam@SanTanSun.com.
Community
www.SanTanSun.com
Photo enforcement intersections
Arizona Avenue and Ray Road
Alma School Road and Warner Road Arizona Avenue and Warner Road Alma School Road and Ray Road Arizona Avenue and Elliot Road Dobson Road and Warner Road Ray Road and Rural Road 56th Street and Chandler Boulevard Alma School Road and Queen Creek Road Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road Chandler Boulevard and McQueen Road Riggs Road and Gilbert Road
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