Red-light cameras out of control in Europe, let’s not make it the same in Redmond

As a resident in the Redmond area for several years, I want to raise my concerns about the pilot program Redmond has adopted to implement speed and red-light cameras. I am originally from the United Kingdom, which demonstrates a nightmare potential outcome to what has started here in the United States and now in my adopted hometown of Redmond.

April 14, 2011 5:18 pm
The City of Redmond began its traffic camera pilot program in March and will decide early next year whether to make it a permanent fixture in the city.
The City of Redmond began its traffic camera pilot program in March and will decide early next year whether to make it a permanent fixture in the city.

As a resident in the Redmond area for several years, I want to raise my concerns about the pilot program Redmond has adopted to implement speed and red-light cameras.

I am originally from the United Kingdom, which demonstrates a nightmare potential outcome to what has started here in the United States and now in my adopted hometown of Redmond.

The UK now has more than 6,000 cameras with 2,500 mobile units of which many are hidden from view and not in school zones. Other European countries have also followed suit. While this does not happen overnight this pilot program opens the door to the potential.

We started with the same foot-in-the-door 12 years ago, which has led to eyes in the sky everywhere. They now have red light cameras which can also track speed and a new program of citing drivers for average speed along a stretch of road. One camera in Nottinghamshire generates 4.2 million pounds or $6.9 million per year.

I respect and support the current administration’s intentions and how it is spending the money from the program. However, this pilot leaves me very uneasy regarding its potential outcomes after the trial period. Especially, if there is a change of administration where the temptation of low-hanging fruit from income generated could be used for other budget short falls or special projects

My other concern focuses on their placement. The police have stated that their placement is not based on location accident statistics such as T-bone, pedestrian or cyclist accidents. Rather they focus on rolling stops, which do not warrant a $124 fine. The fine in the UK is not even that high for speeding or red light offenses, which is 60 pounds or $98. If they are to stay, I feel the fine should be closer to $30, which will still create the behavior modification they desire.

I have maintained a clean driving record for the past 20 years so I am not writing this letter because of a ticket. I am concerned about camera proliferation as a form of secondary taxation as in the UK, even if it is to fund safety projects.

The police have stated that our accident statistics are very low and continue to decline even before these cameras were installed. So why do we need them? These cameras provide very limited actual safety benefits; instead they line the pockets of an Arizona corporation with a slick sales pitch, which charges the municipality a high monthly lease rate per camera. Bravo to the mayor for sticking to a pilot program and not adopting a Lynnwood or Bellevue approach. Let’s keep Redmond free of red light cameras and give the voters a say in what happens to our beautiful city!

Chris Hill, Redmond