Red-light cameras coming to Denver
By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Denver drivers may want to hit the brakes the next time they're tempted to run a red light.
After years of delays in the contracting process, the city is getting ready to install red- light cameras at four busy intersections with lots of violations.
It'll be just the beginning of Big Brother's reign over red- light runners in Denver.
In the future, the city wants to install additional red-light cameras, which are credited with reducing collisions in some cities. In Aurora, for example, major accidents fell 60 percent at an intersection that's part of a pilot program.
"The feedback is that (the cameras) can even detect if it's a bad hair day, and you can't deny you did it because it's pretty much right there," Councilwoman Marcia Johnson said Wednesday.
Denver is finalizing a one- year, $838,800 contract with RedFlex Traffic Systems, which will install the cameras, issue citations and track delinquent accounts, among other responsibilities.
Once the cameras are up and running - it's unknown exactly when that will happen - the city will conduct a 30-day trial run and issue motorists warnings.
But after a month, violators will have to pay $75 for each citation.
Suspected red-light runners will receive notification in the mail with four pictures: the vehicle before it enters the intersection, the vehicle in the intersection, the license plate and the driver's face.
The notices will include a pin number that allows recipients to go online and see a 12-second video of the violation to help them decide if they want to pay the citation or fight it.
Police will review the four pictures and video before a notice is mailed, to make sure that a violation occurred.
"They'll review all the circumstances of the violation and then make a determination to accept it or reject it," said Wade Bettisworth, director of sales and marketing for RedFlex's western region.
chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099
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December 20, 2007
10:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
RickyLee writes:
THIS FROM THE BOULDER CAMERA.
And see the other half in my next post.
(due to the size limit on posts here)
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Drivers who don't follow those basic rules will have more to worry
about in the city of Boulder next year. The city plans to expand its
photo-radar and red-light photo programs, both of which issue
"tickets" - see below - to drivers via automated devices.
The city now operates six red-light cameras, which snap photos of
vehicles and drivers that run red lights, and plans to add two more in
2007. The city also plans to double its fleet of photo-radar vans, from one to two.
Traffic planners say red-light photo devices have reduced violations
at relevant intersections by an impressive 57 percent (based on 2002
figures, the most recent available). But they also acknowledge that
they also tend to increase rear-end collisions.
December 20, 2007
10:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
RickyLee writes:
....here's the rest
We're all for anything that helps reduce dangerous driving (though
some strategies, such as traffic circles, are themselves rather
dangerous and poorly understood by most drivers).
But in the interest of full disclosure, here are a few things
Boulder drivers might want to know about what the Legislature calls "automated
vehicle identification devices."
The "ticket" you receive in the mail is anything but. It is merely a
request that you pay up. Suggestions you may receive by phone to pick
up an unspecified document at the police department are just that, requests.
To prosecute a photo violation, state and local law requires that you
actually be served - in person, by a "peace officer" - with a ticket
within 90 days. And even if requested to do so, you are not required
to pick it up.
If you are personally served with a ticket, you have the right to go
to court, just as with any other alleged offense. However, if you go
to court and are found guilty, a judge can add $60 to the maximum $75
fine allowed under state law.
Any offenses detected by automated devices cannot, by law, be reported
to the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. Violations - even if you
are found guilty in court - will not appear on your record; no "points."
And should your vehicle be detected by a device when you are not
driving, you do not have to snitch on who's behind the wheel. But you
can be required to demonstrate that the driver is not you.
Few drivers know the particulars of photo violations; most just send
in the fine. If more were aware, it might reduce revenue generated by
the program, while still causing alleged violators to think twice
before driving dangerously on city streets.
And that's OK. The goal, we presume, is increased safety, not "revenue
enhancement."
The city doesn't go out of its way to let citizens know about any of this.
But a squeamish Legislature put strict limits on automated devices
when it considered the issue back in 1999. We're glad they did.
"Little Brother is Watching You" strategies are becoming more common.
But as more of our lives are eyeballed by remote technological
devices, it's nice to know that we humans still have a say in all this.
Drive safely, and know your rights.
© 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC.
December 20, 2007
11:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
So where are these four intersections? What is causing the violations there? Why would drivers run those red lights but not others?