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| 1/9/2008 12:21:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | | RED LIGHT WARNING | • Round Rock City Council approved the use of red light cameras at intersections in September
• The city awaits the awarding of a contract to begin the red light program
• The city will also place signs alerting motorists to the presence of a red-light camera
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Red-light camera system still in works
City hopes to award contract this month
KATHRYN EAKENS
Leader Staff
The city of Round Rock is still in the process of getting its red-light cameras in place after unanimously approving their use in September.
Assistant Police Chief Tim Ryle - who initially hoped to have the program up and running by the first of the year - said the city is still working on selecting a vendor to implement the program.
"We haven't quite gotten there yet," Ryle said. "We are hoping to award a contract during a city council meeting this month.
"Hopefully the vendor will be able to get to work on it in February. That's the kind of time frame we're working with right now."
The ordinance adopted by the council lays out the process and penalties for implementing the program, setting the fine amount at $75 and specifying the violation as a civil infraction, as opposed to the criminal infraction motorists receive if ticketed for the same offense by a police officer.
According to Ryle, the ordinance clearly reflects the actions of the state legislature during the past session regarding red-light cameras. The passing of Senate Bill 1119 gave clear authorization for Texas cities to implement red-light cameras, provided the cities list specific needs criteria for the cameras, such as engineering reasons and number of crashes in high-traffic areas.
Following the administrative costs of implementing and maintaining the system, 50 percent of the fine will be placed in a regional trauma account and the other half will go toward improving intersection safety as designated by Senate Bill 125.
After the initial approval of the ordinance in September, Ryle said he considers the implementation of a red-light camera program a force multiplier and more efficient than having police officers patrolling problem intersections.
"This is a great example of how improvements in technology bring improvements to the police department," Ryle said. "Because officers will not need to be patrolling those intersections, it will free them up to address other issues."
In addition to the system of cameras the city will also place signs alerting motorists to the presence of a red-light camera at least 100 feet in advance of the intersection as required by House Bill 1052, which invalidates any ticket received without such warning.
SB 1119 also requires local authorities to monitor and annually report the number and type of traffic accidents at red-light camera intersections to determine whether the system results in a reduction in accidents or in the severity of accidents.
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