Tom Warne Report, 13 April 2012
A small Arizona city in the Northwest Valley has been inundated by tickets from the cameras, with a city official comparing the frequency of the camera flashes to a lightning storm or strobe light when they were first installed. Speed and red-light violations have generated $1.3 million for the city so far this fiscal year, with a backlog of up to 8,000 potential violations awaiting police review at one time. The city staff is straining under the caseload from the cameras, which have been successful in catching speeders since their installation last summer on Grand Avenue, U.S. 60.
While many cities utilize photo enforcement, El Mirage is one of the few that is authorized to use them on a state highway, via a special agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation. The majority of speed cameras were removed from Arizona highways in 2010 when the state Department of Public Safety ended its agreement with vendor Redflex Traffic Systems. El Mirage announced last August that Redflex would be installing the fixed cameras at the Grand and Primrose Street intersection.
Drivers are ticketed for traveling 11 miles per hour or more over the 45 mph speed limit, for which fines begin at $232 and increase based on speed. The standard red light ticket is $241.
City Judge James Mapp said the court’s caseload has doubled since the camera was activated, and he and the police chief both recently asked the City Council to increase their budgets to help review and process cases. “This doubling of case filings has resulted in the need for overtime for some clerks, including unpaid overtime worked by salaried employees on nights, weekends and holidays,” Mapp wrote in a memo, adding that he has even had to help open mail and process fines.
El Mirage Mayor Lana Mook maintains that the camera is needed to enhance public safety, not bring in revenue. The city has provided its collision data for ADOT. “I would be thrilled if we made no money,” Mook said. “If we just reduced the speed and made it safer, I would be happy.”