City will install cameras
Published Feb. 2, 2007
Bills introduced in the Missouri General Assembly regarding red-light cameras should not affect the eventual addition of these cameras to Columbia streets.
The two bills were introduced by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, and Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington.
Crowell's bill was pre-filed in December and stipulates that photographs taken by automated software cannot capture the driver's face and must include the image of the red traffic light. Crowell's bill also includes particular rules for the reporting of law enforcement agencies to the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Griesheimer's bill, introduced Jan. 16, stated that any penalties as a result of a camera enforcement system would not be considered a moving violation, and that there would be no additional points added to an individual's drivers license or an increase in the individual's insurance fees.
The bills will not affect the installation of a preliminary program of red light cameras in Columbia.
"We're talking about a pilot program of about five cameras, so it won't be overwhelming," Columbia Police Sgt. Tim Moriarty said. "But if we increase this, we could see this as kind of a time-consuming deal for the department."
The Columbia City Council has been discussing traffic light cameras since last summer when the original camera ordinance was considered. City spokeswoman Toni Messina said the original ordinance was passed Aug. 21. The bill authorized city manager Bill Watkins to initiate a request for proposals to install and operate red light cameras.
"The role of the city council is to accept staff recommendations or not and decide whether they think that is something they believe should be done in the city," Messina said.
The Columbia Police Department and other related agencies are in the process of issuing requests for proposals. Following the initial request, there will be a review process in conjunction with other city officials. Following this review process, the city will engage in some sort of a pilot program.
Though no vendor has been selected for the project, Third Ward Councilman Bob Hutton has heard estimates of costs to the city and possibilities for funding.
"The way that this works in other communities is that you pick a vendor, and they finance it with a portion of the fines," Hutton said. "It is fairly expensive to put those cameras."
There has been no money budgeted for this addition to the city of Columbia, but Fourth Ward Councilman Jim Loveless said that there are other potential ways to fund the project.
"Other possibilities are funding it out of the public works budget," Loveless said. "It would be a reduction from the public works budget, but could be offset by fines."
The cameras will take various pictures of the car and the rear license plate without picturing the actual driver of the car. Moriarty said there could be some additional difficulty with identifying, but an individual can sign paperwork clearing their name as the driver and making sure that the ticket goes to the responsible individual.
"You can send the affidavit in and use them to identify who was driving to make them responsible for it," Moriarty said. "The question is what kind of recourse there will be for people who won't pay it."
Placement of the cameras within the city limits will depend on the types of collisions that occur most frequently at that place in the city.
"One intersection may have a lot of accidents, but it may not be people running red lights," Moriarty said. "We need to look at what is happening there and what would be the best fit as far as that's concerned."
Moriarty said the reason behind the new technology is not simply to give more tickets. Instead, the department hopes to make it safer to drive.
"What we tend to see or what other cities have seen is a change in the nature of accidents from very severe incidents," Loveless said. "It changes from a very severe incident, like T-boning a car, to hitting in the back. Though it does not necessarily show a reduction in the numbers, especially at first, we do see a reduction in the severity of accidents. It's certainly something worth trying."