The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted unanimously Wednesday not to renew the city's $232,000 annual contract with American Traffic Solutions. Since the cameras' installation in 2001, traffic tickets through the program have generated as much as $400,000 in revenue over expenses for the city. The tickets carry fines of about $500 each. The city was facing declining revenue and souring negative public opinion.

The decline in citations and a growing number of legal challenges have cut revenue by more than half within a year, officials say. The red-light program is projected to lose about $40,000 this year. Red-light camera citations will cease after Sept. 29. The city will extend its contract with American Traffic Solutions through December to finish processing tickets already in the system.

The cameras photograph the car and the driver, and tickets are issued by mail based on the vehicle's license and registration information. But an appellate court decision has made it more difficult for cities to defend automated citations, causing some to reevaluate their use of the cameras. An appellate panel of Orange County Superior Court judges ruled in 2010 in the appeal of a red-light ticket that photos and video submitted by police were inadmissible as evidence. The panel said the photos and video were hearsay because no officer actually saw the driver run the red light.

The Laguna Woods City Council will consider terminating its red-light camera program at its Wednesday meeting as well.  Read the full article. 

The Hillsborough County Florida Sheriff's Office has released another round of red-light runners that shows a near collision, a pedestrian's close call, a motorist barreling through an intersection after the light had been red for 98 seconds, and more.  Tampa, Florida sure has some crazy drivers.   The fine for running red lights in Florida is around $193.  

16 Waterloo region cameras are generating lots of revenue in Canada. The Waterloo, Ontario region budgeted for revenue of $1.4 million for the red light camera but actually received $1.6 million. A record 7,258 tickets were issued last year to motorists who ran a red light at 16 busy intersections equipped with red-light cameras, netting the region $1.6 million in revenue. In most cases, motorists pay the fine once they see the photographs, Sawdon said. Read the full article.

The end is near for the flashing red light cameras throughout Pasadena over the past five years.  After court challenges nixed red light cameras in Los Angeles, cost overruns in Pasadena's own red light program contributed to its demise, officials said. The city spent close to $350,000 to operate the red light camera program, and hauled in about $340,000, which Pasadena split with the state. The program lost money and now Pasadena will terminate its contract with red light camera operator American Traffic Solutions.

Pasadena found itself saddled with a camera system that captured red light runners, but a court reluctant to enforced the tickets. Since motorists received their tickets in the mail and didn't sign an agreement to appear in court at the time of the citation, they could not be bound to show up or pay the fine, the court decided. The Los Angeles Superior Court that essentially said it was OK for drivers caught on camera to skip court dates.  Read full story. 

Australian red light camera company Redflex Traffic Systems has bought an automated school bus photo enforcement in the United States. In statement released today, Redflex announced it had bought American companies SBL Investments and Americore, providers of the on-bus photo enforcement system, Smart Bus.

“The acquisition positions Redflex as a leading provider of school bus safety photo enforcement technology at a time when more and more school districts are using technology to deter reckless drivers who ignore school bus safety laws and put children at risk,” the statement says.

The first transaction is reportedly valued at $4.5 million, with more payments due over the next four years. Under the agreement, SBL and Americore will operate as separate entities with Redflex as owner.

“The acquisition of Smart Bus further solidifies our position in photo enforcement globally, and expands the opportunity to provide products and services into this emerging market.” Redflex plans to merge its recently introduced Redflex Student Guardian system with the Smart Bus system. According to Redflex, ten states, globally, allow the use of school bus arm enforcement technology and at least ten others are considering legislation to allow it.

Based in Melbourne, Redflex Traffic Systems is an Australian company formed in 1997 to provide digital imaging solutions for traffic enforcement and management. Redflex Holdings Limited Group is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Why Do Democrats Love Red Light Cameras More Than Republicans?

Democratic lawmakers and camera company lobbyists have been getting very cozy in the last few years.  A lot more than Republican according to our recollection of stories we read in the papers. There is one simple reason that Democrats tend to like these cameras more than Republicans.  More money!  Republicans typically want less government and Democrats will seek any new revenue opportunity available.  We have read several news articles over the past few years and there is a one common theme behind each legislative effort.  A Democrat is behind the lobbying effort.  

Connecticut is just one of the many States and Cities in throughout the U.S. considering to adopt red light camera legislation.  National Coalition for Safer Roads is a group lobbying for support of the cameras in Connecticut that receives funds from Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions, a private vendor of red light cameras that has spent more than $100,000 on lobbying in Connecticut since last year.   Democratic lawmakers are pushing hard for the new legislation and are now running up against some resistance.  Read the full story. 

Fort Lauderdale Red Light Report April 2012