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Ariz. Firm Picked To Handle Hillsborough Red-Light Cameras

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2009

TAMPA - The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has awarded a contract to American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz., to install and operate red-light cameras at 10 busy intersections.

The contract, approved by a committee of seven sheriff's deputies and officers, pays the company $47,500 to operate the cameras and send out citations with photos of the red-light infractions to the offending cars' registered owners.

The company will own the cameras and sensor devices that trigger the photographs, and the county will lease the equipment as part of the deal, Sgt. Rob Rodriguez said.

The lights will be installed initially in 10 of the most heavily traveled intersections in the county.

Owners of the cars photographed in the intersection when the light changes to red will be sent a citation with a fine of $125. The citation will include three photos: one of the car about to enter the intersection, a second of the car in the intersection and a third of the license plate.

Drivers who choose to fight the citations can go before a code enforcement hearing officer. The citations will not cost the car owner points on his insurance coverage.

The company will start putting up the cameras in coming months. The sheriff's office will begin ticketing after a 60-day warning period.

American Traffic Solutions has made some missteps since it began operations several years ago. Scottsdale had to throw out 589 photo enforcement speeding citations issued in December 2007 and January 2008 because they were triggered by a faulty sensor operated by the company.

Temple Terrace hired the firm last year to install cameras at the 56th Street intersections with Bullard Parkway and Fowler Avenue. Between Oct. 19 and Jan. 12, the company sent the city 12,415 violations to review. The reviewing police officers accepted 8,200 violations to receive citations and rejected 4,215.

Temple Terrace spokesman Michael Dunn said the rejected violations were mostly people who slowed, but didn't stop, while turning right on a red light.

"Our reviewing officers are giving motorists the benefit of the doubt," Dunn said. "They're really trying to fine people who are blatantly going through the light, but that's a lot of people."

Port Richey, in Pasco County, contracted with the company in November 2007 to run red-light cameras at U.S. 19 and Ridge Road. But the company asked to be released from the contract in August and the city complied.

Both sides agreed not to discuss the reasons the relationship ended.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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