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| Magnolia to install red light traffic cameras |
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At its monthly meeting June 9, the Magnolia City Council unanimously passed a motion to approve a contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to install traffic light photo enforcement at several intersections in Magnolia.
Chief of Police Paul Michna said the video camera systems will be installed at the intersections of FM 1774 at Nichols Sawmill Road, FM 1774 at Buddy Riley Boulevard, FM 1774 at FM 1488, FM 1488 at Goodson, and FM 1488 at Buddy Riley Boulevard.
Michna said he doesn’t know when the traffic cameras will be installed, but that it would be “several weeks,” pending the signing of the contract with ATS and the City of Magnolia.
Michna explained that the cameras use video technology, rather than snap-shot photography, to monitor motorists.
“If the camera detects someone running a light, it takes a 12-second video; before, during and after, and the company (ATS) looks at the video, reviews it, sends it to the city for another review, and if we agree we send it back, and a citation is issued and sent in the mail,” Michna said.
Violators of running a monitored intersection will be assessed a $75 fine, a portion of which will go back to ATS to fund the program. For the first 30 days of the program, violators will receive only a warning.
City Administrator Ryan Kelley said that the city chose ATS because of the large size of the company and the positive results that other cities have shown that use them.
Kelley said he hopes the cameras will have a positive impact on traffic violations and that the revenue will help pay for the new police department.
“Once you get the cameras people are a lot more conscious about red lights,” said Kelley. “It makes a whole lot of sense.”
Michna also said that an advantage to the ATS cameras is the ability for people who are sent citations to see for themselves if they committed the offense.
“You are able to go online and look at the video yourself if you believe you didn’t run the light,” he said. “I always thought there should be some due process, and with this there is.”
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Quote from Michna: “You are able to go online and look at the video yourself if you believe you didn’t run the light,” he said. “I always thought there should be some due process, and with this there is.”
This has been the same since Magnolia bought the first video systems from day one .. people have always been able to request a trial by Judge or Jury and have the tapes shown during their trials and I saw very few that were found innocent.
Just another waste of Tax Payers money .. Perhaps one day instead of growing up, residents will take a long hard look at where their money is going...