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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 11 18 Regular 600 Red Light Camera InfractionsCODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD AGENDA ITEM 600 November 18, 2008 Meeting CONSENT INFORMATIONAL X PUBLIC HEARING REGULAR MG /DEPT horization REQUEST: Police Department Code Enforcement Bureau informing the City of Winter Springs ' Code Enforcement Board of its authority of appeals for Red light camera infractions. PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to inform the Code Enforcement Board that the City of Winter Springs has entered into a 5 year contract with American Traffic Solutions for automated Red Light running cameras. CONSIDERATIONS: At the direction of the City Commission the Police Department Code Enforcement Bureau requested bids for installation of red light enforcement cameras at major intersections in the City of Winter Springs. This project is part of the Winter Springs Police Departments efforts to reduce the number of red light accidents in the City. The project was advertised for bid October 7, 2007, with the bid opening on October 31, 2007. Due to proposed legislation on the use of red light cameras that was expected by the State during the special session, the Police Department waited to see if any changes would need to be made before a selection was made. Three vendors provided sealed bids for this project and they were American Traffic Solutions, Laser Craft, and Traffipax. American Traffic Solutions was selected by meeting all the proposal criteria and staff review. American Traffic Solutions provides this service for Orange County, Miami Gardens, Pembroke Pines, Palm Coast and Apopka, Florida. Currently, the City of Casselberry has started the process and will piggyback off the Palm Coast contract. American Traffic Solutions will provide to the City a comprehensive and fully integrated red light traffic safety management services including collections of fines, training, public safety announcements, easements, maintenance, operation and equipment. This service will not require any expenditure from general fund or other cost to the City. The City has various types of intersections along the SR 434 corridor and the contractor will deploy traffic safety camera equipment at designated arterial intersections, covering up to four (4) approaches at each intersection including turn lanes. Camera enforcement locations are based on traffic data that revealed the highest number of intersection accidents. They are listed below; November 18, 2008 Informational Agenda Item 600 Page 2 of 2 SR 434 @ Vista Willa SR 434 @ Tuskawilla SR 434 @ Winding Hollow SR 434 @ SR 419 SR 434 @ Hayes Road SR 434 @ Edgemon The cameras will be installed and for the first thirty days, written warnings will be provided to the violators. After the thirty day period the fine will be $125.00 per violation. American Traffic Solutions will also provide public safety announcements prior to the start of the program. The process for a citation to be issued to the vehicle owner will be a 2 step process including both the vendor and the Police Department. The vendor will submit all violations that were recorded from each camera to the Police Department each day through the internet. The Police Department will review video of each violation for accuracy and any extenuating circumstances that may have caused the violation. If it is a violation the police department signs off on the notice and the citation is mailed to the vehicle owner. The vendor will process all violations including payment of fines collected through the mail or internet If the owner is not the driver of the vehicle they must provide a notarized affidavit of who the driver was to the vendor and the citation is then mailed to them. If the owner or driver of the vehicle contests the citation it would be scheduled for the Code Enforcement Board to hear the appeal to the citation. This appeal process will be based on the evidence and testimony from both the City and affected respondent as in a normal hearing. However, the main difference is that only a finding of the violation did or did not occur based on the presentation of evidence. The respondent is going to be the vehicle owner or driver and may not be a property owner of the City of Winter Springs as the Board normally hears. If found in violation the fine would stand at $125.00 payable to American Traffic Solutions or found not to be in violation then no fine would be assessed to the responder. FUNDING: None RECOMMENDATION: None at this time. CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD ACTION: