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Y! MyWebRED LIGHT CAMERAS | Are they improving safety at intersections?
Drop in red-light citations is misleading
May be more the result of poor service from camera company
Comment: Do you think the red light cameras have been effective in reducing traffic violations?
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The citations and revenue from the eight red-light cameras placed at select intersections around town dropped significantly in 2007, according to city officials.
But is the decline a testament to the cameras' effectiveness as a deterrent for red-light runners, or does it mean something else?
City officials would say it's hard to tell for sure, primarily because of the poor level of service Middletown is receiving from the vendor responsible for maintaining them.
Last year, Maryland-based Traffipax Inc. acquired the company that originally installed the red-light cameras for the city in 2005. Since then, city officials say they've experienced a number of problems with Traffipax, including poor record keeping of accidents and one camera that has not functioned since February.
These factors coupled with decreasing revenues from civil citations have city officials considering bidding out the red-light camera service to another company.
Middletown Division of Police records show there were 5,708 citations issued from April through December 2005; 5,752 citations issued in 2006; and 5,415 citations issued in 2007, which was the transition year from the original vendor to Traffipax. From January through May 2008, only 1,844 citations have been issued, with seven of the eight cameras in operation.
Fewer citations also means decreased revenues for the city. Traffipax, and its predecessor company, paid for the installation and operating costs of the cameras for a portion of the fines collected by the city.
According to Finance Director Russ Carolus, the city received $142,250 in red-light camera revenues in 2006, but that fell to $107,518 in 2007. Revenue could decrease again in 2008 based on the number of citations issued so far.
The previous vendor was able to provide statistics on each intersection, but that information is not available now with the current vendor.
Middletown police Maj. Mark Hoffman said the cameras are a valuable safety tool.
"The goal is changing behavior of drivers," he said.
City Manager Judy Gilleland said she wants to see an increased level of service and is looking for feedback from Middletown City Council.
"I'm very supportive of programs that increase safety and reduce accidents regardless of the revenue we receive," Gilleland said.
Comments
By annoyed
July 7, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
And for the record… to anyone planning to avoid Middletown just because of these cameras… You’ll have to start taking the really, really long way around here soon, because cameras are going up everywhere. Including Hamilton, Cincinnati, Dayton, and I believe Franklin is talking about it, right?? Well… good luck with spending more gas money just to ensure you’re able to run a red light somewhere else and crash into the inicent family that had the green light!
By annoyed
July 7, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Everyone in Middletown knows that the financial state of the city as a whole has taken a major blow. This includes the Police Dept. They haven’t been able to afford keeping an ample number of officers on the street at all times. These cameras have helped to free officers from having to monitor stupid drivers - and focus on other crimes (ask any officer, and they’ll enlighten you of how bad crime really is in Midd). I’m not for or against the cameras - I’m just annoyed by other’s dumb comments.
By Tom
July 6, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
The red light cameras are there soley for the purpose of making money for the city and the camera operators. They actually increase accidents according to independent studies. See www.thenewspaper.com for examples of this. I used to come to Middletown fairly often to shop or eat out, but now I just avoid it. If Middletown wants my business back, it should scrap the cameras.
By Queskappefs
July 4, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
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By Doug
June 30, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
A post below suggests that if you don’t run red lights, you have nothing to worry about. This issue runs much deeper than that with much more sinister undertones. It is about erosion of your right to be treated fairly by those who wield power over you. It is about police powers being sold to private enterprise. It strips you of “innocent until proven guilty”. You can’t face your accuser. Anyone with a computer can generate photos of anyone doing anything. These systems can and do make mistakes
By James
June 30, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Cowboy - it is perfectly legal in Ohio to enter an intersection under yellow.
Regarding thenewspaper.com - everyone affected by the camera situation in Middletown, or any other locale owes it to themselves to read the articles especially those pertaining to the impact of traffic cameras. They just don’t work for safety, and frequently (as Middletown is finding out) don’t line the coffers as much as anticipated.
Regarding the plate spray - it is simply clear coat and has essentially no effect.
By Sharon
June 30, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
continuation - I provided phone records to the red light dept to document my call to the Middletown Police, etc. I fully supported the red light program because I used to think it was there to help reduce accidents - now I know personally that it is only way of making money for the city.
By Sharon
June 30, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
I ‘slid’ through Central/Breiel red light in march due to black ice on the road-I immediately called Midd Police to report it and also talked to the Red Light dept-I paid my $100 and asked for an appeal which was offered feeling confident that they would be fair and refund my money-I did not hear from them on my appeal-I called and was told that they forgot my appeal but would review-next day I received a letter denying my appeal.I guarantee no one even reviewed it.
By Mark
June 30, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
I’m anti cameras. All they do is produce revenue, not safety. If you want safety, take a page from Morraine. They have traffic monitoring recorders at major intersections. When an accident occurs, Police and Lawyers can review the recording to determine fault, no tickets generated for x% to the city and xxx% to the Camera owner. When I was young, we would have spray painted all the camera lens so nobody would get tickets. Yee-Haw !
By Reason
June 30, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Let’s see if I get this straight, no running of red-lights….no ticket. No speeding…no ticket. No ticket, city of Middletown does not get paid and cameras are now useless decorations. Pretty simple to me.
By Chris
June 30, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
Cash Cow idea. I rerouted from Madison to Lebanon via Verity through Franklin. Two reasons are way better fuel economy (8 Lights from the Sunoco in Poasttown to red lion Versus 24 going through town) which 3 have cameras of which 2 work. I think the Save a lot camera near Kmart is the broken one. And the other reason is the fear of getting rear ended by a loaded coil truck with weak brakes when I have to lay skid marks because of these idiotic cameras.
By LUXXYLADY
June 30, 2008 1:01 AM | Link to this
THE MIDDIE HAS WENT TO HELL AND SO HAS THE TRAFFIC.. I HATE DRIVIN HERE ANYMORE, I GOT A TICKET AND THEY CAN GO TO HELL, I WISH I WOULD F**K MY CAR UP THAT I PAY FOR IN ALL WAYS TO TRY AND MAKE A COMPLETE STOP AT A DROP OF A DIME… THEY MONEY HUNGRY JUST LIKE ERRYBODY IN THE U.S.A.
By roadrage
June 30, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
Doug- go online or go to youtube, there is a manuafacturer who sells the spray for $30-$40. I haven’t had a ticket in 25 years, but this is just about being padded down for money. The city doesn’t do this for safety. Its about helping the city make money for the court system, nothing else. It should be ruled unconstitutional, almost was, so why bother taking a chance. Just think how many thousands won’t come to Middletown for Midfest or the air show in September to avoid being fleeced.
By Doug
June 29, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
A quote in the above article says, “City manager Judy Gilleland wants feedback from city council” Hmmmm— City government would be more wise to listen to “feedback” from it’s citizens! People in general are begining to realize the difference between being protected, and being fleeced.
By Bob
June 29, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
All the city of Middletown is after is money. Red light cameras are just one of the avenues our city officials take to get it. The cameras should be illegal. If I get a ticket from one of them the first person I will call is my lawyer. If I can find the spray paint the above people are talking about I will spray my plates to. I believe no police no ticket.
By daniel
June 29, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
the cameras only cause problems, especially when people have to slam their brakes on in the rain to save 100 dollars it is ridiculous for them to waste the money they did installing them to where people like me… yes i got one back in 07 and i still have not paid it i took the city a busted brake line and reciept and they still said there is nothing they can do about it. the light had not even been red a full second.but i dont care they will never see the money from me.middletowns finest lol
By denied
June 29, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this
After red light cameras whats next; j walk cameras, spit on the side walk cameras, shorts too tight cameras, etc. Big brother at its best. When you don’t pass the street repair levy, take it out of the “red light money”.
By Bizman
June 29, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
This is clearly for revenue. We NEVER hear about how many fewer accidents there are. Residents should stand against the city government and throw them all out. Tell the city you want no more. There is no due process of law. They just send you a ticket and you have to pay it or else. There is no cop there to accuse you and you basically have no say. What kind of a justise is this? UNFAIR I SAY!! Down with the city of Middletown!!!! You’d do anything for a dollar.
By Normal Lear
June 29, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Firstly, do yourself a favor, and buy the spray which makes your plates invisible, this is solely about making money for the city, not safety. The worst and most dangerous intersection is on Breiel and Rosedale (and no light camera there!). Secondly, the negative “police state” mindset and depiction this causes leads to $hundreds of K in lost tourism, retail revenue, and home sales. Mistake city ledrs, another blunder to add to the many made.
By Doug
June 29, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
For a brief moment I thought they would be a good idea. As I learn more and more of the truth about these devices, the real reason they are spreading across the country like a plague, and they way they are designed to circumvent fairness to grab your money, the more I detest them. Want some truth? check out www.thenewspaper.com click on “red light camera studies”
By "J"
June 29, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
I see an awful lot of references to “decreasing revenues.” This should clearly indicate that the primary purpose of these cameras is not safety, but generating dollars for the city. If the goal was safety, then the city would be able to show if the decrease in citations correlated with a decrease in accidents; if it did, they would proclaim the program a resounding success! (By the way, it is not the vendor that is responsible for tracking accidents- it is the city, through police reports.)
By ajax
June 29, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Kerry Byrd is right. I drive across town four times daily. Not only have I found alternative routes without cameras, but i can speed and not worry about having to come to an abrupt stop at these intersections. Also there are many of us who have sprayed our license plates with a reflective spray that prevents an accurate picture of the plate numbers. There is also a clear cover for your plates that distorts the numbers to unreadable when photographed. I had mine done while on vacation.
By ajax
June 29, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Kerry Byrd is right. I drive across town four times daily. Not only have I found alternative routes without cameras, but i can speed and not worry about having to come to an abrupt stop at these intersections. Also there are many of us who have sprayed our license plates with a reflective spray that prevents an accurate picture of the plate numbers. There is also a clear cover for your plates that distorts the numbers to unreadable when photographed. I had mine done while on vacation.
By ajax
June 29, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Kerry Byrd is right. I drive across town four times daily. Not only have I found alternative routes without cameras, but i can speed and not worry about having to come to an abrupt stop at these intersections. Also there are many of us who have sprayed our license plates with a reflective spray that prevents an accurate picture of the plate numbers. There is also a clear cover for your plates that distorts the numbers to unreadable when photographed. I had mine done while on vacation.
By deanna
June 29, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
In some cases I believe the red light camera’s may be a good thing….on the other hand I believe that they cause accidents….people tryin to slam on thier breaks to get stopped in time. I was run off the road by a driver just the other day right at one of the camera’s and while i was trying to get myself back on the road I ran a yellow light which for all I know may have turned red….but im sure if i get a ticket that the person responsible for running me off the road will not get cited.
By Charlene
June 29, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
I think it is worse. I know people that had to stop fast because of the lights and got rear end by the person behind them. I think it causes more accidents. Not only that if some one else is driving your car you get the ticket. I was not the guilty person but im the one who gets the ticket.
By Ted
June 29, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
I would like to see the Journal report how many citations have been waived since the cameras were installed, how many rear-end accidents have occurred and how many red-light citations that the police department has written at other intersections throughout the city.
By Kerry L Byrd
June 29, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
I hate thease things. How much business is Middletown running off,extra wear and tear on side streets due to people dodging thease things,and if it’s for safety reasons why worry about revenue’s? Is the city ready for the law suit when someone lockes the brakes and gets run over by a eighteen wheeler in front of armco? If I don’t see one turn red or green I turn right. Safety reasons,Pa-Shaw. The city should be ashamed of it’s self.
By cowboy
June 29, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
yes, i think it is a good idea to have the cameras. it will stop drivers from going thru yellow and red lights…