According to the Opelika-Auburn (AL) News, the City of Opelika, AL, has started the process for the installation of red light cameras (RLC's). Links are here:
The city council has requested the local legislative delegation to propose a local bill in the state legislature that would allow Opelika to move forward with installing the RLC's. It is a quirk of Alabama law that certain actions proposed by local governments must first be approved statewide. If the local bill passes, then the Opelika city council would be in position to adopt a local ordinance regulating RLC's and to select a vendor.
Under the current proposal: The vendor would likely be American Traffic Solutions, the same company that has existing cameras in Montgomery, Alabama. Any violation would be civil, not criminal. The fine levied would be $100.00, with American Traffic Solutions receiving $28.25 and the City of Opelika receiving $71.75. Late fees would be capped at $25.00. There has been no mention of court and other fees, but I suspect the net amount paid by a violator could be significantly more than $100.00. The picture proving any violation would be of the tag, not the driver, to avoid the appearance of profiling. Local officials say that the installation is for safety, not revenue.
I am sure: (1) American Traffic Solutions is more interested in revenue than safety. (2) No matter what the local officials say in public, in private not one of them would be surprised, concerned, or less than delighted by the prospect of the RLC's being a source of revenue generation for Opelika.
-- Garmin nüvi 3597LMTHD, 3760 LMT, & 255LMT, - "Those who wish for fairness without first protecting freedom will end up with neither freedom nor fairness." - Milton Friedman
According to the Opelika-Auburn (AL) News, the City of Opelika, AL, has started the process for the installation of red light cameras (RLC's). Links are here:
http://www2.oanow.com/news/2011/jan/31/picture-opelika-counc...
http://www2.oanow.com/news/2011/feb/01/opelika-council-moves...
The city council has requested the local legislative delegation to propose a local bill in the state legislature that would allow Opelika to move forward with installing the RLC's. It is a quirk of Alabama law that certain actions proposed by local governments must first be approved statewide. If the local bill passes, then the Opelika city council would be in position to adopt a local ordinance regulating RLC's and to select a vendor.
Under the current proposal: The vendor would likely be American Traffic Solutions, the same company that has existing cameras in Montgomery, Alabama. Any violation would be civil, not criminal. The fine levied would be $100.00, with American Traffic Solutions receiving $28.25 and the City of Opelika receiving $71.75. Late fees would be capped at $25.00. There has been no mention of court and other fees, but I suspect the net amount paid by a violator could be significantly more than $100.00. The picture proving any violation would be of the tag, not the driver, to avoid the appearance of profiling. Local officials say that the installation is for safety, not revenue.
I am sure: (1) American Traffic Solutions is more interested in revenue than safety. (2) No matter what the local officials say in public, in private not one of them would be surprised, concerned, or less than delighted by the prospect of the RLC's being a source of revenue generation for Opelika.
Garmin nüvi 3597LMTHD, 3760 LMT, & 255LMT, - "Those who wish for fairness without first protecting freedom will end up with neither freedom nor fairness." - Milton Friedman