Camera “Fraud” of the Week

This is the type of propaganda generated by the city of Tucson.

Contact Council Member Rodney Glassman and demand that these cameras be removed!

The questions below are ridiculous and the answers predictable.

I have a question for Mr. Glassman, under your “same standard that are required if you were to be stopped by an officer and cited”, how do you cross-examine a camera?

What agency that you know of has a Zero tolerance for issuing citations?  Cameras don’t have discretion…Police officers do.

How many cameras have arrested drunk driver or assisted a driver Mr. Glassman?

Not one mention is this question/answer page shows the real motive…Money! The City of Tucson collects millions of dollars in fines from Photo-radar…

The city of Tucson has an improper motive deploying these cameras. This has very little to do with safety. It’s simple, follow the Money…

Laws are created to enforce not as a revenue stream for government. Given the history of government, it’s just a matter of time and these cameras will be used for something else.

This is posted on the City of Tucson Website. Maybe Mr. Glassman needs to hear from the people he’s treating impartially and fair…

Northeast Ward Two
7575 E. Speedway
Tucson, Arizona 85710
Phone: (520) 791-4687
FAX: (520) 791-5380

E-Mail: ward2@tucsonaz.gov

Q: Is photo enforcement a new strategy?

A: No, photo speed enforcement and photo red light enforcement has been used in Europe, Australia and Canada for over twenty years. Cities in the United States have successfully implemented photo enforcement strategies for over ten years. In the Phoenix Valley, photo enforcement strategies were implemented in the latter 1990s. With digital technology, the effectiveness of photo enforcement has improved tremendously.

Q: What is a speed camera?

A: Speed cameras are electronic devices that are linked to a speed-measuring device, such as a radar unit. When a vehicle travels through the radar above a set speed over the speed limit, the camera captures the violation.

Q: Are these systems accurate?

A: Radar has been used as the primary speed enforcement tool for decades. Radar is accepted as a valid speed measuring system throughout the country. Photo radar systems utilize very narrow beams of radar deployed at specific angles to the roadway. Photo radar measures speed as the vehicle approaches, and as the vehicle passes.

Q: Does a photo enforcement system photograph every vehicle?

A: No, the only time a photograph is taken of a vehicle is when the system detects a violation. The cameras are aimed at specific locations to capture the license plate or driver of the violating vehicle. If passengers are present in the vehicle, their faces can be removed by the vendor prior to the issuance of a citation.

Q: Is photo enforcement effective in reducing crashes?

A: Photo enforcement has been proven effective in many communities in the United States and Canada, as well as Europe and Australia. Cities in the Phoenix Valley, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler and Mesa have reduced speeds, collisions and injuries as a result of photo enforcement. In fact, many of these jurisdictions are increasing the scope of the photo enforcement initiatives. Other states, including Texas, Colorado, Utah, California and the District of Columbia successfully utilize photo enforcement as part of their traffic safety strategy.

Q: Is speeding really that big of a problem in Tucson?

A: Yes, it is. Excessive speed was the fatal contributing factor in about 20% of traffic fatalities. Failure to reduce or control speed is the highest single cause of all crashes in Tucson. Although this also considers those following too closely, speed is a factor.

Q: How much money can the city expect to make from photo enforcement?

A: Photo enforcement programs are not designed to generate revenue. Agencies in Arizona that have photo enforcement systems consistently report that the system operates at a loss. A common misconception is that the fines from citations stay with the city. In fact, around 80% of traffic fines go directly to the state. The city bears the cost of lease fees, vendor costs and personnel costs for law enforcement and the courts and the funds that remain local do not typically cover those costs.

Q: What is the benefit of a photo enforcement strategy?

A: A comprehensive photo enforcement strategy can reduce crashes, injuries and deaths in our city. Traditional enforcement strategies depend on the ability to deploy officers into an area with time, tools and training to make stops. These officers are often subject to other calls for service, they must spend time writing citations while others commit the same violation as they are issuing a citation, and traffic conditions can make it dangerous for the violator, officer and everyone else on the road to initiate the stop.

Photo radar does not require that stops be made. Violations are fairly and consistently recorded nearly every time they occur. Photo enforcement does not place anyone at risk, but the violator usually is aware they have been caught due to the flash of the system. This provides immediate deterrent to the violator. Photo enforcement provides an increased certainty that enforcement will occur.

Q: Will photo enforcement replace police officers doing traffic enforcement?

A: Photo enforcement will enhance the work that traffic officers already do. Photo enforcement is not intended to replace the expectation that officers actively enforce traffic violations. With photo enforcement reducing speeding and crashes at other specific, officers could focus their enforcement time on these types of violations. There is no plan to reduce the expectation that officers will enforce traffic violations if a photo enforcement strategy is adopted.

Q: How will you determine where a photo radar van will be deployed?

A: The van will be most effective if it is deployed into areas where there is a higher risk of crashes or injuries. For example, speeding in school zones is a major problem that could be impacted by photo radar. Speeding in construction sites where traditional enforcement is not feasible are also appropriate deployment locations. Other areas where speeding is a problem to include major thoroughfares or neighborhood cut-through areas could benefit from the deployment of photo radar.

Q: Can I contest a photo enforcement citation?

A: The state carries the burden of proving the violation by a preponderance of the evidence. This is the same standard that is required if you were to be stopped by an officer and cited. You can ask for a hearing and the state would be required to provide evidence that the photo enforcement equipment was working properly, that the violation occurred and you were responsible for the violation.

Q: I get the feeling that photo radar is “big brother” watching me all the time.

A: The only time a photograph is taken is if there is a violation. Unless you break the law, the system does not record anything. If a photo is taken of the driver, the faces of the passengers can be redacted as a matter of policy. Photo enforcement systems do increase the certainty that those who commit violations will have to deal with their behavior.

Q: Where can I get more information?

A: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has several documents on photo enforcement accessible on the Internet. Similarly, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety maintains information on photo enforcement. Questions may also be directed to the Police Department web site or to the Traffic Section at 791-4440. In addition to this, town hall meetings will be held in every ward to ensure any questions are completely answered.