Texas AG asked to weigh-in on red light cameras (updated)
Is Houston one of the Texas cities requesting permission to put red light cameras on state roads?
The Texas Department of Transportation has asked Attorney General Greg Abbott to decide whether the agency can install red-light cameras on traffic signals along state roads.
A few Texas cities already have installed cameras that catch red-light runners by mailing tickets to the vehicle's registered owner. Leaders in several other cities are considering using the cameras as well.
The state, however, controls many traffic signals along freeway frontage roads, U.S. and state highways and farm-to-market roads. TxDOT executive director Michael Behrens wants to know whether cameras can be placed on those red lights.
In a Dec. 20 letter to Abbott that was made public Monday, Behrens said he wants to know how to respond to requests from cities that want to place cameras on state roads within their borders.
It appears that some of the roads on this list of dangerous intersections in the Houston area are state-controlled. MayorWhiteChiefHurtt do want more cameras, we know, which would help make up for the ticket revenue shortfall.
UPDATE: Well, shoot. I missed this KTRK-13 story on the current state of Houston's four test red light cameras:
Back in November there was much fanfare about the newly installed red light test cameras. They were to photograph vehicles as they ran through red lights. The motorists would then receive a warning in the mail.
Two months later, the system was to be officially sending out citations to violators. Houston police admit the testing period took longer than expected.
HPD Lt. Robert Manzo explained, "The testing period has ended. Some of the vendors have started removing their equipment from the intersections."
The red light camera testing ended last Friday and the results are staggering. At just four intersections in midtown and downtown, over 2,800 vehicles were photographed running red lights. Of that number, Houston police determined 633 motorists committed clear violations. Those violators were mailed warning citations. HPD says that's an average of 20 vehicles a day at each location.
"(It) seems like an awful lot," said driver Terri Gaskin. "Seems very dangerous. There's a lot of people crossing the streets around here all the time and I think it's very dangerous."
The test cameras remain at two downtown locations. If you are photographed running these red lights, you won't get a ticket -- yet.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 01/10/06 04:08 PM | Print |

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