Springs May End Red Light Camera Program
The City of Colorado Springs is considering ending its red light camera program, saying it did not meet safety expectations.
Just over a year after installing four photo red light enforcement camera systems at local intersections, the city is reviewing the pilot program and will propose an end for the program. The contract with American Traffic Solutions will run out at the end of the year.
Interim Police Chief Pete Carey says it currently takes two full-time officers and a part-time supervisor to staff the program, and he feels those officers will be better used elsewhere.
“When we decided to test the technology, we had hopes of making a significant difference in motorist safety,” said Carey. “A review of the data after one year shows conflicting information at best. We discussed the program with Mayor Bach and determined citizens would be best served if we reassigned personnel to other priority functions.”
The photo speed enforcement program, which features a mobile speed van, will continue.
This comes just nine days after a new report was released saying the red light program made Colorado Springs streets safer.
The report shows violations and accidents are down at three of the four intersections in the past year. The number of people running red lights dropped from 1,520 in October 2010 to 1,040 in August 2011. And 95 percent of drivers caught by the cameras in the past year paid their fines.
But at East Bijou Street and North Nevada Avenue, the number of drivers caught running red lights rose more than 20 percent. That increase may be due to more tourists passing through downtown.
Mayor Bach said, “The photo red-light enforcement program did not meet our expectations. It is as simple as that. If a safety program can’t be shown to improve safety, it ought to be stopped.”
The red light camera announcement is part of $1.2 million in proposed cuts Carey revealed to the City Council on Tuesday. He said $800,000 in cuts will be made by eliminating open positions, reassigning some officers to other duties and using more civilian officers for minor responsibilities.
Carey said there will be no police layoffs, and his goal is to use patrol officers more efficiently where they’re most needed.
Cary said some members of the department will be reassigned as community service officers who don’t need arrest authority or specialized training, freeing up patrol officers for the most important work.
