December 2012


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Virginia ‘Red Turn’ Traffic Cameras Rake in Money, Come Under Fire


BY KENRIC WARD RICHMOND — A proposal to


curb red-light cameras is looking for a green light at the General Assembly.


State Delegate Joe Morrissey calls


automated ticketing of right-turning motorists making slow-rolling stops at red lights a “revenue maker” for Virginia municipalities, abusive to drivers and a danger to the public.


“In pursuit of ‘zero-tolerance,’


you’ll end up with more rear-end collisions,” the Richmond Democrat predicts.


Since July 1, state law no longer


requires the Virginia Department of Transportation to conduct crash surveys before cameras are installed. In VDOT’s absence, red-light camera companies have swooped in with deals for cities to effectively obtain cameras for free.


“The companies will charge, say,


$4,700 for a (ticket-issuing) camera, with a guarantee that the municipality will generate at least that much revenue in traffic fines. If they don’t, they don’t have to pay,” says Joe Bahen, an engineer and state representative for the National Motorists Association.


The cash flow appears to be there. Virginia Beach officials, pushing


the zero-tolerance law under the motto “Red Means Stop,” signed a contract for Redflex Traffic Systems of North Americato operate right-turn-on- red (RTOR) cameras. Now, nearly three-quarters of the city’s tickets for moving violations involve “illegal” right turns.


“The city is generating more than


72 percent of its traffic revenue with these cameras, even though there was no history of crashes” at the intersections before they became photo-enforced, Bahen says.


City senior traffic engineer Mike


Shahsiah says his department is in the process of compiling crash data for three years before and after camera installation, and expects to have the results next spring.


Bahen contends that strict


enforcement via cameras — which can cite motorists whose vehicles do not come to a full stop before turning right at red lights — will create more rear-end collisions and unnecessarily clog intersections.


“Crashes caused by RTOR


violations are an infinitesimal 0.4 percent of all accidents nationally, so camera enforcement is unwarranted and purely profit-motivated,” Bahen told Watchdog.org.


“Ever since right-turn-on-red laws


were passed in the 1970s, drivers have interpreted them to mean they must yield to other traffic and to pedestrians,” he said.


The trend toward “zero tolerance” is proving profitable to cities.


Virginia Beach, one of the first


municipalities to start clamping down, issued $2.56 million in RTOR tickets last year. That’s more than 50,000 RTOR citations, and the numbers have risen steadily.


Of the city’s 106 photo-monitored lanes, 16 are right-turn lanes, a traffic


The Hampton Roads Messenger


3


Attucks Cultural Center Receives 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award


report shows. That means 72 percent of the traffic citations were issued on 15 percent of the lanes.


Virginia Beach’s “PhotoSafe”


website shows that $3.58 million in total ticket revenue was collected in 2011, and $1.12 million was paid to Redflex.


To slow down what Morrissey


derides as a high-tech ploy “to use the criminal justice system to raise money,” the lawmaker wants to amend the state code to say, in part:


“Except where signs are placed


prohibiting right turns on a red signal, camera citations shall not be issued to right-turning drivers who enter an intersection at speeds of 15 mph or less, unless there is video evidence that the driver failed to yield right-of-way to a pedestrian or other traffic.”


Though the verbiage is still in the


drafting stages, Shahsiah said Virginia Beach has no objections to the 15 mph rule.


“All of our right-turn-on-red


enforcements are set for speed higher than 15 mph,” he said.


But a video produced by the


city clearly states that right-turning motorists who do not come to a “full stop” will be fined.


In Petersburg, data reviewed


by Watchdog.org showed that 97.4 percent of camera-generated tickets at one intersection — Crater and Wagner roads — involved right turns.


“There were more than 8 million


(vehicle) entries there during 2011, and a total of two crashes. We doubt that RTOR violations were a factor in either,” said Bahen, noting that Crater and Wagner is a T-shaped intersection.


Redflex, which has contracts with


10 Virginia cities and counties, does not comment on proposed legislation, said company spokeswoman Jody Ryan.


American Traffic Solutions,


which signed a contract with Arlington County, says strict enforcement of right-turn traffic is crucial to safety.


“Right-turns-on-red have always


been associated with danger, despite arguments from those claim otherwise. This is especially true when it comes to pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable in the collision,” said ATS spokeswoman Kate Coulson.


“This is why the law requires


motorists to come to a complete stop on red before turning right.”


Coulson said all red-light camera


violations captured by ATS traffic cameras come with a 12-second clip that is reviewed by law enforcement officials, who then determine whether to issue a citation.


Though a 40-year-old state law


requires that right-turning traffic be at a “full stop” at red lights, police officers used discretion before the advent of TRAFFIC CAMERAS PAGE 11


First Lady Michelle Obama with Gail Easley and Tiffani Prigrom of RISE! (Rhythm in Setting Expectations) at the 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards ceremony at the White House. Photo: Steven E. Purcell


NORFOLK – Crispus Attucks


Cultural Center RISE! (Rhythm In Setting Expectations) after-school program has received the 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award at the White House today.


“This is a tremendous


accomplishment for the RISE! program and an honor for the City of Norfolk. This program has made such an impact in the lives of its students and I am thrilled the White House chose to recognize it as one of the best in the nation,” says Mayor Paul D. Fraim.


14-year-old Lake Taylor Middle


School student Tiffani Prigrom, a third year RISE! dance student, received the award from Mrs. Obama in the East Room of the White House.


“Having the chance to represent


my peers in accepting this award from the First Lady of the United States in the White House was an experience that I’ll never forget,” said Prigrom. “It showed me that programs like RISE! that can


change kids lives are recognized and valued.”


Chosen from a pool of more


than 350 nominations and 50 finalists, RISE! is one of only 12 after-school and out-of-school programs across the country to receive the award, which is the highest honor such programs can receive in the United States.


RISE! (Rhythm In Setting


Expectations) engages low-income young people in significant exposure in the arts as a way to develop skills they need to be effective in work, at home, and in school. Each year, 700 children and teenagers participate in intensive hands on workshops in dance, music, creative writing, media and visual arts, theater and technology while enjoying social and life building experiences. RISE! is not a ground for artistic training but, instead it uses the arts as a vehicle for developing self-esteem, self-discipline, creative problem solving and critical thinking skills — a paradigm for success.


Norfolk.gov


J.G. Carter Joins TowneBank as New Mortgage Chairman and President


SUFFOLK, Va., -- Hampton Roads


based TowneBank (Nasdaq:TOWN) has announced the appointment of Jacqueline B. Amato as Chairman and CEO of TowneBank Mortgage. Amato has served as President of TowneBank Mortgage since its founding in 2000. Under her leadership, the company has expanded from Hampton Roads to Raleigh, NC; Richmond, VA and Roanoke, VA, originating more than $1 billion in loans annually. TowneBank Mortgage is currently one of the largest mortgage companies in Virginia.


Effective December 1, 2012, J.G.


Carter will join TowneBank Mortgage as President. Carter brings 29 years of experience in the mortgage banking industry most recently as the EVP of Correspondent Lending for SunTrust Mortgage. "I have known and worked with J. G. for 20 years and am excited to add his knowledge and expertise to our team as we continue to grow our mortgage operations throughout the Eastern seaboard," stated Amato.


"As we evaluated the rapid


growth and expansion of our mortgage operation, we recognized the need for additional leadership to ensure our continued commitment to quality," said G. Robert Aston, Jr., Chairman and CEO of TowneBank. "Ms. Amato and Mr. Carter will work closely together in


supporting our existing operations and in seeking new growth opportunities."


As one of the top community


banks in Virginia and North Carolina, TowneBank operates 26 banking offices serving Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, James City County and York County in Virginia along with Moyock, Grandy, Camden, Southern Shores, Corolla and Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina.


Towne also offers a full range of


financial services through its controlled divisions and subsidiaries that include Towne Investment Group, Towne Insurance Agency, TFA Benefits, TowneBank Mortgage, TowneBank Commercial Mortgage, Prudential Towne Realty, Towne 1031 Exchange, LLC, and Corolla Classic Vacations. Through its strategic partnership with William E. Wood and Associates, the Bank also offers mortgage services in all of their offices in Hampton Roads and Northeastern North Carolina. Local decision-making is a hallmark of its hometown banking strategy that is delivered through the leadership of each group's President and Board of Directors. With total assets of $4.32 billion as of September 30, 2012, TowneBank is one of the largest banks headquartered in Virginia.


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