KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Traffic cameras: Are they cause for controversy or celebration?
Member Center:
By Katrina Webber - email | bio
SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) - It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. But some people believe, at times, they may be saying the wrong thing--especially when it comes to pictures taken by those traffic cameras that are popping up in cities more and more often.
The cities of Longview and Marshall currently use them to watch for red light runners. The city of Shreveport has also been considering the idea.
Doyline residents Alicia Dukes and her husband, Alan, hope it never becomes a reality in their community, especially after an experience they had recently.
Dukes told KSLA News 12 they received a citation in the mail from the city of Lafayette, along with a photo taken by a speeding camera. However, Alicia Dukes says there was one big discrepancy in the picture.
"You can see there's no close resemblance, whatsoever," she said. "(My husband's) white. The man in the picture's still a pretty big guy, but he's African American."
After several frustrating phone calls attempted at getting the problem resolved, Dukes called KSLA News 12. We, in turn, called Tony Tramel, who oversees the SafeSpeed Lafayette and SafeLight Lafayette programs and quickly got the issue dismissed.
Tramel said the image taken by the camera distorted some of the numbers on the vehicle's license plate, resulting in a mis-read by a team of human inspectors. He said the violation was then, inadvertently, linked to Alan Dukes.
"Do we make errors or mistakes? Occasionally it does happen," said Tramel. "Can we be absolutely perfect? I wish we could."
Tramel said errors like this are rare, though, and don't outweigh the benefits of programs like these, such as causing drivers to do a better job of obeying the laws.
"I have, anecdotally, seen changes in behavior already," he said.
Lafayette began using cameras to monitor traffic on a limited basis in October of 2007, but both programs didn't begin operating at full swing until January of this year.
Figures show that since that time, more than 50,000 citations have been issued. The average fine related to the red light cameras is $125, while the speeding tickets carry a fine of $25 to $150 for a first time offense.
However, Tramel says the objective is not to write tickets, but to turn bad drivers into good ones.
Still, the programs are not without their critics.
A number of citizens groups have accused several cities of using the cameras as a way to make money. Some have even gone as far as to file lawsuits, claiming that the cameras violate drivers' civil rights.
After her husband's experience, Alicia Dukes said she prefers a human touch.
"I think it would be better if actual officers were put on patrol."
But Tramel said the cost of doing that can result in millions of dollars, while using the cameras costs his city nothing.
A private company installed the cameras and maintains them at no charge. They, however, do receive a percentage of the money that is collected in fines.
