City of Bellingham Initiative No. 2011-01 Automated Red Light Cameras Submitted by citizen petitions

Bellingham voters will decide if they want surveillance cameras to automatically ticket drivers that “run” red-lights or speed in school zones. The cameras, operated by American Traffic Solutions (ATS), a Goldman Sachs Arizona corporation aren’t new, but news that we have serious traffic safety problems and that cameras are the solution, is.

City Councilman Knutson was quoted in 2010 on the city’s webpage: “We have a significant public safety problem in our community, people running red lights and racing through school zones.” The mayor and the rest of the council have been singing the same song.

We’ve asked for proof of this safety problem, yet only received counts of some local red-light runners and speeders, or national data that comes from high-speed intersection, which we don’t have. No citywide safety study’s been done and certainly little more than ATS talking points have been shared publicly.

If it was about safety, we’d expect data-driven scientific research, showing the collision histories, what other alternatives had been tried to reduce the problem (like changing signal timing), and how red-light cameras would reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities — not just make ATS and the city loads of cash. ATS gets $342,000 per year for the cameras, and according to documents, Bellingham anticipates making $500,000 annually.

We requested local crash data through public disclosure. What we received was minimal and unusable for establishing whether a collision problem existed which would be corrected with cameras at any of the intersections or schools zones.

But we also asked Washington Department of Transportation for data, for State Route 539 (Guide Meridian) and Telegraph Road intersection. We received thorough and startling data. An intersection, where citizens were told we had a “significant public safety problem” with red-light running, was the site of 217 collisions in 10 years. 108 were “rear-end” collisions, and only six categorized “disregard stop and go light” as the primary cause. Of those six, there was one injury and no fatalities, equaling one collision about every two years, with one injury every ten years.

We can only surmise data we were provided at the Guide is representative of the real safety conditions throughout the city. We don’t have a significant safety problem that cameras could fix, though a lot of money could be made off drivers.

Drivers have nanoseconds to decide whether to drive through intersections or brake hard when signals change. We all make this split second decision time and again. Odds are with the cameras that even the safest drivers will eventually “run” a red light. Research is available online by searching “dilemma zone.”

Financial documents posted since 2009 on Bellingham’s webpage showed cameras as a way to raise revenue during the economic downturn. They can be found at Bhamcamscam.com. These were deleted recently from the city webpage, 24 hours after text from the document appeared online in Bellingham Herald comments. The Council incumbents up for reelection continue to say it was never about money, only public safety.

We want safe streets. We believe science, not greed, is the answer. There is much more information on this initiative available at Bhamcamscam.com, or you can write us and have your questions answered personally at info@Bhamcamscam.com. Voting “yes” on Initiative 2011-01 forces the city to discuss real safety solutions — voting “no” means you trust corporations.

Randy Elmore is a member of theTransportation Safety Coalition and feels strongly about red light cameras and the issues they raise.

About once a minute, a driver speeds through the school zone on Alabama Street, with children present and amber school zone lights flashing.

Near the Food Co-op at Holly and Forest, drivers run red lights almost once every 15 minutes. Not simply rolling stops on right turns either; these drivers sail straight through the intersection on red lights.

This is not information from the camera company. This is information gathered from local traffic studies, local violation and local accident statistics that clearly demonstrate a serious problem here in Bellingham.

Traffic safety cameras have been shown to help drivers change dangerous driving habits and reduce the number of these violations and the serious collisions and injuries that result from them. Installing traffic safety cameras that photograph red-light running and school zone speeding violations as they occur may save lives.

Following a police department request the City Council voted 6-1 to install traffic safety cameras allowable under RCW46.63.170 at four intersections and two school zones known for alarmingly high violation rates. Signs will be posted alerting drivers that cameras are present. Timing of green-yellow-red light cycles will not be changed and the cameras cannot be used for seat belt and cell phone use violations.

Photographs taken of red-light running and school zone speeding violations will be posted on a secure website for review by Bellingham traffic officers who determine if tickets are issued. The vehicle owner will then receive a notice by mail providing the website and passcode where the violation photo may be viewed. Similar to parking tickets, driving records and insurance rates are not affected if you get a photo enforcement ticket. You may appeal if you get a photo enforcement ticket.

Traffic safety cameras are a cost effective way to reduce deadly driving habits. One camera takes the place of two traffic officers needed to ticket red light runners -- one who sees the violation and one across the intersection to stop and ticket the violator. The cameras offer a safe and effective way to make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.

The state statute allows each municipality to set hefty fines for these violations. In Bellingham the fine will be just the same as tickets directly from an officer. One of the tenants of Initiative 2011-01 is to lower the fee to the lowest parking fine, currently $10. Unfortunately a $10 fine will not likely motivate drivers to change poor driving habits.

A second aspect of Initiative 2011-01 will require a vote of the people on such measures in the future. Requiring a vote of the people for business we democratically elect our council to do is simply a waste of resources.

Much of the criticism aimed at traffic safety cameras seems to be the revenue generated from fines for those who violate basic traffic safety laws. In Bellingham revenues generated from camera fines will only support the criminal justice system. If the cameras succeed then those revenues will decrease as safer driving habits ensue and that is the goal of installing cameras in the first place.

Traffic safety cameras save money and may save lives. They offer our police a tool that keeps our streets safer for everyone. Voting no on Initiative 2011-10 is just common sense.

Todd Ramsey and Rebecca Johnson. Todd Ramsey is a parent and lifetime community member; Rebecca Johnson is a parent and health center consultant.