Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRed Light Cameras Red-light cameras are gone TIM FREED The Voice Winter Springs residents driving down State Road 434 may not he slamming on the brakes as often these days. The city took down its red-light cameras two months ago, after an agreement was terminated between the city and its vendor, American Traffic Solutions(ATS). The city's cameras were located on State Road 434 at the intersec- tion on Winding Hollow Boulevard and at Vistawilla Drive. "Very simply, the city's contrac- tual agreement with the vendor was - terminated;' said Winter Springs Police Captain Chris Deisler, a li- aison between the camera vendor and the department. "That's why they're gone That does not mean that we may not pursue the pro- gram again, but right now we're just reevaluating it" I 1 hough the equipment was re- moved two months ago, the cam- eras stopped recording as far back as December, when the agreement was unofficially called off. •Please see RED LIGHT on page 2 RED LIGHT I Mayor unhappy with cameras' cost and service r I ■CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE left the ci with abudget 2011 at the State Road 434/Wind- With an annual budget of ing Hollow intersection. Winter Springs Mayor Charles $36,480,265 in Winter Springs,the Though the numbers have Lacey said the city was unhappy red-light camera revenue wasn't gone up and down, Deisler said with ATS' cost and service and even a drop in the bucket, Lacey that having cameras present they are considering finding an- said. "Whether we have cameras helped keep other vendor to run their pro- or not, it's not a financial issue," the intersections safe. •' gram. ATS did not immediately Lacey said. "It's about balancing 1 think they were very ey respond to requests for comment. safety and personal liberty." g standpoint t dp. As far is as a public safety Lacey said the cameras took in Oviedo had also looked into ca 't really tdebconcerned,te it, Deisler about$1,000 a month —equal to whether . about six citations. Shawn Boyle, worth the cameras would be said."When you're more aware of director of finance and adminis- move forward with installing M to a red light re light h are real likely tat trative services for the city, said No recent information on cite- run the red tight It really is that that of each $158 fine, $83 or 53 tions were available, but a 2011 simple." percent went to the state coffers. Voice Winter Springs won resident Jeff The rest,on most occasions,went numbers had been showed sporadic twiith received knew a co-worker who to the vendor, who administered 58 citation fees collected in May of tee intersections red tio and sa at that the cameras and ticketing. That 2009 and 77 collected in January pt and said that uary the cameras kept everything in order. "I kind of liked them there. It helps keep the traffic in the area under control," said Czurak, who's lived in Winter Springs for 16 years. "If you know it's there, i you won't try to run it" Other citizens saw an upside to the absence of the cameras. "This can be an advantage for all the people who make a right i turn on red," said Dick Byrne, a i resident of Winter Springs for 27 years. "You can't pick and choose I the people that it catches." With red-light cameras being a I potential target of restrictive legis- I lation at the state level,Lacey said that the city of Winter Springs plans to wait until the spring be- fore looking for another vendor. "When people speak about I red-light cameras, they usually. think of three things:revenue gen- eration,liberty and safety"Lacey said. 'There are advocates for all three. Money is not a factor here. The police believe that these cam- . eras are a big contributor for the safety irtintersections."