Upcoming Events
Poll
Crystal River considers red-light cameras
Company says city could net $1 million in fines annually
A day doesn’t go by when someone doesn’t try to beat the signal at a busy U.S. 19 intersection in Crystal River and blows through just as the light turns red.
Now city officials, following the lead of small-town counterparts, are considering red-light cameras that advocates say not only reduce traffic accidents but also bring thousands of dollars into city coffers.
The council this week instructed City Manager Andy Houston to see how the program works in Port Richey, seek proposals from companies that offer red-light cameras and meet with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office to see how the program might impact the city’s law enforcement contract.
Houston said red-light cameras are being used in Williston, Dunnellon, Port Richey and other communities. He expects to have an update to the council in late February.
American Traffic Solutions, an Arizona-based company that offers red-light programs to cities and counties, estimated the city could receive $800,000 to $1 million in fines annually by placing red-light cameras at six U.S. 19 intersections: southbound at King’s Bay Drive; north and southbound at State Road 44; north and southbound at Northeast Third Avenue; and northbound at Citrus Avenue.
The company estimates 26,640 red-light violations a year at those six intersections.
Council members were stunned to think there were that many red-light runners in the city, but they also said they don’t doubt the possibility.
“I probably see 12 violators a day at King’s Bay Drive,” Councilman Ron Kitchen said. “People think four or five people a week run red lights here.”
Mayor Jim Farley said he wouldn’t want to do the program simply for the city to pad its budget. But the possibility of slowing down a red-light problem, he said, would make the program worthwhile.
“After seeing the numbers, it’s a wake-up call,” he said. “Who would believe it?”
Red-light cameras have had mixed reviews statewide. Dunnellon and Williston have the program; Brooksville had it stopped in August after citizens complained.
Council members said they wanted to focus on motorists who drive straight through red lights, as opposed to those who turn right on a red. Other communities have experienced difficulty in prosecuting right-on-red violators, Houston said.
Attorney Michael Brannigan, who is with the city’s Hogan Law Firm in Brooksville, said he is the city attorney in Port Richey and red-light cameras have helped drop the number of intersection accidents.
“The chief of police is really happy with it,” he said.
Councilman Mike Gudis said the city should consider red-light cameras as a safety measure.
“There’s nothing more serious,” he said, “than running a red light.”
Chronicle reporter Mike Wright can be reached 5643-3228 or mwright@chronicleonline.com.
Add new comment
Read and share your thoughts on this story
Ad Gallery
Copyright © 2012
ChronicleOnline is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Citrus County, FL and the surrounding area.
In this case I don't know
In this case I don't know what took them so long to put the red light cameras, so many accidents could have been avoided already. I've been through a car accident, I know how serious it can be. I had to get a Louisiana personal injury lawyer to stand up for my rights while I was injured in the hospital. So whatever it takes to avoid accidents...
"After seeing the numbers,
"After seeing the numbers, it’s a wake-up call"
The numbers they were referring is the $800,000-1,000,000 the city could pocket. What do we have deputy sheriffs for? To drive around chatting on their cell phones all day? The company that pushes these cameras makes a commission on every violation....what a freaking racket.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE MONEY GRUBBING POLITICIANS?
Traffic rules are suppose to be about safety. I am sick and tired of seeing people pulled over who have done nothing to endanger the safety of people around them. It is no secret that programs like this one are designed to bring money to the company putting these in place and to bring money to the cities that allow them to do it. It is all about the love of money, and the talk about safety is a ruse.
You can test this theory by arranging it so neither party, the company installing it or the city, make any profit off the deal. Watch how disinterested the company and city become then.
I know someone caught on camera in Dunnellon by the Wal-Mart. She received a letter in the mail with a fine of $180 because she rolled through a right turn there. Ridiculous! What a hardship it placed on her and her family. After I heard about it, I decided to avoid driving through Dunnellon at all costs. I will not go to stores and restaurants there because some camera might catch me not coming to a complete stop or something ridiculous like that.
I don't have many traffic tickets in my life and at 50 have never had an accident, but yes, I was pulled over on a back road in Crystal River a few years back because I didn't stop for 3 seconds at a stop sign. I endangered nobody. There were people there, kids playing, and yes, I saw the police car right there too, but did not think my not coming to an absolute complete stop would bother any of them. As far as I'm concerned, I saved gas and facilitated a better flow of traffic by driving the way I did. I did not appreciate the fine and the points on my license which I have to pay more for insurance on for the next three years.
We need community leaders who will see right through the foolishness of moves like this one. The love of money is what drives this, not the love of safety. How many people have been injured in Crystal River by someone slowly rolling through a right on red turn? That is the kind of statistics we need to see.
Some years back, I remember the fire safety folks in the county forcing Christian Center Church in Homosassa to remodel and build exterior stairs for tens of thousands of dollars, supposedly for extra safety in case of fire. I asked the Fire Marshall to provide some information about how many people had been injured in Citrus County by fires because there were no stairs leading from the second floor outside. He came back after his research and said he was surprised to learn that there had been zero injuries from any fires in any commercial buildings in Citrus County. But you can bet your last dollar that didn't change their mind about the safety need for the church to fork over the money to remodel according to the new code.
Unless anyone knows people injured or suffering property damage from someone rolling right on red, why is this even coming up for discussion? I drive Crystal River every day and every night. I see no need for this foolish move. It will only oppress the people more.