Washington Missouri Removing Red Light Cameras - 75% of income went to cameras' provider

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Washington Missouri Removing Red Light Cameras

Over 75% of income went to cameras' provider.

After nearly three years of controversy, red light cameras at two intersections in Washington will come down. During their meeting Monday evening, Washington city council members voted 6-2 not to renew a contract with the cameras' provider, American Traffic Solutions (ATS), when it expires in March.

The cameras, at the intersections of Highways 100 and 47 and 100 and A, were installed to make the intersections safer. The cameras take a photo of any car that passes through the intersection on a red light, and allows police the opportunity to issue a citation.
 
Some drivers opposed the use of the cameras, arguing they did not make the intersections safer, but instead served only as a money-maker for the city. Similar cameras, and similar arguments, have sprung up in many other cities around the country. The cameras in Washington are the only two in Franklin County.

The council received copies of an extensive report prepared by Traffic Safety Officer Bill Hanneken, which outlines all traffic accidents at both intersections for the three-year period before and after the red light cameras were installed.

The report shows that there were 101 traffic crashes at the Highway 100/Route 47 intersection since cameras were installed, 13 fewer than the previous three years. However, the number of injury accidents dropped from 15 to 13, but the total injuries in the crashes increased by 11, from 21 to 32, according to the study summary.

At the Route A/Highway 100 intersection, there were 51 crashes reported after cameras were installed, down four. Injury accidents dropped from 14 to seven, and the number of injured people decreased from 20 to nine.

Under terms of the current three-year contract, the city is required to notify ATS 60 days before the expiration date. There is no automatic renewal clause in the contract which will expire in March 2011 since the council voted not to renew it.

The cameras are designed to catch red light violators on east- and westbound Highway 100 at the Highway A and Highway 47 intersections.

Total income generated by the red light camera tickets from March 2008 through October 2010 totaled $481,454.50. Of that total, $363,187.50 was paid in fees to ATS. The City only received  $118,267
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