TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hillsborough's Red-Light Cameras Could Be Up By Summer

Tribune photo by ANDY JONES

The first municipality in the Tampa Bay area to use red light cameras was Port Richey, which dropped the technology last year after a disagreement with the camera company.

ADVERTISEMENT

By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 5, 2009

TAMPA - Hillsborough County won't see red for at least three months. Temple Terrace, meanwhile, is considering expanding its year-old red-light camera program targeting drivers who blow through intersections.

American Traffic Solutions, the company hired in January to install red-light cameras at 10 intersections in unincorporated Hillsborough County, said it's evaluating a list of locations provided by sheriff's deputies and beginning the task of obtaining permits to install its equipment.

"The permitting takes 30 to 90 days. You could say that by early summer you would start seeing them up and running," ATS spokeswoman Beth Leytham said.

The cameras have been dogged by controversy and questioned by privacy advocates. Florida law bars them from state highways. Port Richey dropped the technology last year after a disagreement with ATS; both sides have refused to elaborate on what happened.

In Temple Terrace, officials say complaints have poured in since October when the cameras went live but have tapered off. Now they are considering expanding the program from two intersections – 56th Street and Fowler Avenue and 56th and Bullard Parkway – to four or five.

"Obviously there's been a mixed reaction," city spokesman Michael Dunn said. "Some people are upset."

But officials believe the cameras are saving lives – and also making money.

The fine for blowing a red light is $100. From October to January, Temple Terrace issued 9,339 tickets based on photographic evidence at the two intersections – or nearly $1 million worth of tickets.

Dunn maintains the effort is safety-oriented and notes police have given motorists the benefit of the doubt many times, including where drivers didn't come to a complete stop before turning right.

"A lot of people have gotten into the habit of creeping through intersections," Dunn said.

ATS technicians and police review footage, but police decide whether a ticket is warranted. More than half of the violations from October to January were forgiven.

There's also evidence motorists are slowing down. The 4,313 violations observed in January – not actual tickets issued – are roughly half the amount observed in October.

Hillsborough is still developing its program. Like Temple Terrace, law enforcement will be the final arbiter of whether to ticket a driver. Before that happens, ATS and the sheriff's office will launch an educational program, likely in May or June, to prepare motorists for the changes.

The cameras will sit atop 20-foot poles and be able to record five images in 1.5 seconds. Technicians at ATS' facility in Phoenix, Ariz., will review the images three times before deciding whether to forward them to the sheriff's office.

Signs will tell drivers they're approaching an intersection with cameras. Citations will be $125. No points would be assessed for violations, so drivers' insurance rates wouldn't be affected.

State legislators, meanwhile, are pushing for guidelines for cities and counties contemplating red-light cameras.

About 15 Florida jurisdictions have the cameras and about that many are considering contracts with companies to operate the devices.

"Red-light running seems to be epidemic in the state of Florida and hopefully, this will be one tool to stop it or slow it down," said state Rep. Ron Reagan, R-Sarasota, who introduced a bill last week to create statewide standards.

On Wednesday, the measure was approved by the Roads, Bridges & Ports Policy Committee. It has been assigned to four more House committees.

The bill would cap fines at $150 and target vehicle owners, no matter who's driving. That's how Florida assesses fines for toll violations.

Owners could appeal. They would not get points against their license and insurance companies couldn't use the violations to raise premiums or cancel coverage.

POSSIBLE CAMERA SITES

The following intersections are among those being considered for red-light cameras in unincorporated Hillsborough County:

• Anderson Road and Waters Avenue

• Waters and North Dale Mabry Highway

• Waters and Sheldon Road

• Gunn Highway and Anderson Road

• Brandon and Grand Regency boulevards

• Bloomingdale Avenue and Bell Shoals Road

• Sligh and Habana avenues

• Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Fletcher Avenue

Source: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT