TRAFFIC Council puts brakes on red light camera legislation

Many details will be decided once a vendor is chosen, the director said.
WARREN -- City council has tabled legislation on automated red light cameras, perhaps until summer's end.
Questions arose Wednesday on whether there were enough votes to pass the red light measure, as well as lingering questions about how the revenue from fines would be used.
A separate ordinance authorizing the city to use automated speed enforcement cameras was placed into first reading.
But council is now in recess for August unless a special meeting is called.
Safety Service Director William "Doug" Franklin has spent a lot of time this year bringing in vendors and trying to answer questions from council.
The tabled legislation would have allowed the red light cameras' use in Warren, moving the city to the next stage of the process: choosing a vendor.
Issues of how the vendor and city would divide the revenue, and what the money would be used for, would be worked out once a vendor is selected, Franklin said.
"I have to respect council's decision," he said.
Councilman Bob Dean, D-at large, was not sure if there were enough votes for the ordinance to pass, Franklin said.
Questions
There would be signs at all intersections that have red light photo enforcement cameras. In a three-hour work session Monday, council members expressed concern about how citations would be issued, who would be responsible to pay, and the amount of fines.
Representatives from Nestor Traffic Systems of Alpharetta, Ga., Redflex Traffic Systems of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Traffipax Traffic Safety Systems of Columbia, Md., answered questions and made suggestions.
The proposed cameras would record the violator's rear license plate. All citations would be issued by the company contracted by city council, but an officer would be appointed to review and approve citations before they are issued.
Each offense will be $85, payable within 30 days; council has decided against a step system that would increase the fine for multiple offenses. After 30 days, a $50 penalty is added to the $85 fine. After 60 days, an additional $100 is added, bringing the total to $235. After 90 days, the unpaid citation is referred to a collection agency.