Speeding News - e State Traffic School

Multiple year studies of three cities resulted in consistent findings:
"comprehensive studies conclude cameras actually increase crashes and injuries"

Traffic Light Cameras violate a 2005 ruling of the Florida Attorney General.

A preliminary view of Temple Terrace data suggests "the number of accidents more than doubled" at intersections with cameras.

Source:
Florida Red Light Cameras - Attorney Investigates - Scientific Report
http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2009/tx-templereport.pdf

Labels: Camera Tickets, Civil Fines, Florida, Ticket, Traffic School, Traffic Tickets

The lawsuits makes allegations that the Traffic Cameras that the City of Temple Terrace allows American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to operate are in direct violation of a 2005 ruling of the then Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Sources:
http://www.thenewspaper.com

Labels: Camera Tickets, Civil Fines, Fines, Florida, Ticket, Traffic School, Traffic Tickets

New Traffic Cameras have been installed everywhere. I sat and watched several intersections recently. I noticed that many cameras are aimed at the right turn lane. The camera's flash is triggered when a cars front wheel crosses the white line at the intersection. This trigger not only takes a still photo of the license plate on the back of the car but I have read that there is a video that begins recording at that moment and continues for a pre-determined amount of time. The videos and still are then processed at the camera company and often re-processed at the individual policing agency that issues the ticket. I was surprised that so much emphasis has been put on the right hand lane. As I sat and watched many, many vehicles triggered the cameras. They seemed to come to a complete stop on or just beyond thee painted stripe. Be very careful to stop before the stripe. If you do not, I suggest not commencing through the red light. Stay right where you are until you clearly have a green light. That way as the video is viewed there will be no question that you had run the light since you in fact stayed until it was green.

If you received a traffic ticket, would like to reduce the points on your driving record, would like to reduce your insurance premiums, or would simply like to become a better driver by learning about current traffic laws - take an online course with e State Traffic School.
eStateTrafficSchool.com

Labels: Camera Tickets, Civil Fines, Ticket, Traffic School, Traffic Tickets

In Brooksville if you receive a traffic ticket in the mail you can watch the video of the "offense" online or at the station. The cameras that are installed photograph the car as you approach and then while you are crossing. The tickets are considered "civil" since they are not issued by a police officer. Appeals are being heard by a special hearing officer called a "special master" on the last Tuesday of every month and last about two to three hours, depending on the case volume.. In Brooksville, Bill Eppley has been the "special master" since 2006 when he was appointed by the Brooksville city council in 2006.

In Brooksville there are four intersections with cameras recording "violations"
1. at the SW corner of Broad Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
2. Broad Street and Wiscon Road
3. Broad Street and Cortez Boulevard
4. Cobb Road and Jefferson Street
5. one aimed at the southbound lane of Cobb Road and West Jefferson will start operating before September 12, 2009.

The National Motorists Association has called for a nationwide ban of the cameras.
"Traffic levels are down and the fatality and accident rates are down around the country, I question the need for a traffic unit in Brooksville." said a Florida member of the National Motorists Association, Henry Stowe.

Traffic attorney W.F. "Casey" Ebsary Jr. of Tampa Florida believes that since the rules and regulations governing Florida's roads are so complicated the hearings would be better suited for a judge. Mr. Ebsary said "[t]he only thing an inch and a half thick (with civil violations) are tickets and checks to pay tickets."

$125 Cost of a red-light ticket.
$40 Amount camera vendor American Traffic Solutions collects (Brooksville keeps the rest).
1,524 Number of citations Brooksville has issued since April (not including the 30-day warning period following camera installation)
$120,987 Amount Brooksville has collected in citations.
$17,720 Amount paid to American Traffic Solutions.
$1M Estimated amount the red-light program could bring in 1 year 3/2009 - 3/2010

http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/aug/15/special-master-rules-red-light-tickets/news/

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/brooksville-police-chief-calls-windfall-in-revenue-from-red-light-camera/1027187

Labels: Camera Tickets, Civil Fines, Florida