Phoenix halts traffic-camera expansion

Phoenix won't be expanding its red-light camera photo-enforcement program - at least not for now.

A summer pilot speed program, which focused on higher speeds on arterial streets outside of school zones, and right turns on red lights, had mixed results.

The Speed Van Pilot Program didn't produce significant numbers of violations to support changing the contract with vendor American Traffic Solutions,according to staff reports.

And while the Right Turn on Red Program resulted in an increase of more than 2,300 citations from June 23 to Aug. 22, staff recommended not modifying the current program.

Sandra Hunter, assistant city attorney, suggested the Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee direct staff to prepare a request for proposal for the Photo Enforcement Program. The contract with ATS expires in February.

Hunter said the city could ask vendors to submit proposals that:

• Offer different payment systems, such as a per citation rate, instead of a flat fee rate.

• Share or cover the cost of manpower to review images of violations. For every 10 additional cameras, the police department estimates two new police officer positions to approve or disapprove photo violations.

• Share or cover the cost of infrastructure. Additional cameras would also require additional office space and equipment to review photo violations.

• Provide flexibility to expand or modify camera locations. The city has 12 intersections with cameras and two vans for school zones.

• Create a contract that is cost neutral. By activating the cameras to record right-hand or left-hand turn violations, the city could issue more citations and collect more fines. The city loses approximately $395,000 a year running the program.

Greg Stanton, a member of the subcommittee, said the goal of the Photo Enforcement Program is public safety.

"What we're trying to do here is maximize safety," Stanton said.