Let me begin by being very clear: I am biased in favor of red-light camera systems. I have both financial and personal reasons. Financially, I represent RedSpeed USA and RedSpeed Mississippi in both a marketing and lobbying capacity. Personally, I favor camera enforcement because I have witnessed accidents and close calls when driving on busy streets across this state.

When starting out at a green light, I hesitate and look both ways to make sure that if I pull into the intersection, I will not be hit broadside by someone running a red light. I am certain that I am not alone in my frustration. I also understand why many otherwise law-abiding citizens are scofflaws when it comes to traffic violations. Our cities’ law enforcement personnel and budgets are stretched to the breaking point. The scourge of drugs and the property crime that follows drugs keep police too busy to strictly enforce traffic laws. Declining tax revenues mean that cities can’t hire enough officers to combat “real crime” and traffic patrols suffer. A lack of enforcement leads directly to a lack of compliance. This holds true with almost every law.

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that red-light running causes more than 100,000 crashes and 1,000 fatalities annually. What do the people who run the red lights gain? About 44 seconds, the average length of a red-light cycle. If each red-light runner made $50,000 a year, he or she would save about 29 cents per violation. These violators are willing to risk innocent lives to save 29 cents!

Also, the FHWA estimates that injuries and fatalities caused by red-light violations result in an economic loss of $14 billion each year. How do officials get the attention of someone who values a human life at less than 29 cents? By hitting them in the wallet with a fine that makes them think twice about breaking the law again.

Many cities are turning to cameras to enforce traffic signals. Red-light cameras do three things. They reduce accidents, save money and change driver behavior. Municipalities across the nation implementing camera systems have experienced reductions in violations, reductions in accidents and, most important, reductions in fatalities. The most thorough study to date was compiled by Iowa State University for the Iowa Department of Transportation (www.ctre.iastate.edu). It concluded that the deployment of red-light camera systems dramatically decreased violations, crashes and injuries.

Despite the proven benefits of camera systems, they often are met with stiff opposition. Chances are that by the time you picked up this paper and read this article, you have been filmed multiple times. Surveillance cameras can be found at banks, convenience stores, government buildings and every ATM. So why are the opponents of red-light cameras not opposed to other surveillance? Simple. Most people have no fear of being filmed at banks and stores because most people are not robbers.

Does Vicksburg need red-light cameras? During a four-hour period at a single Vicksburg intersection, a traffic engineer witnessed, videotaped and logged over 200 red-light violations. Vicksburg’s elected officials, with citizen input, are the ones who have to decide how to solve this safety problem. Armed with facts, citizens can make up their own minds and decide who they need to protect — innocent victims or violators who will continue breaking the law to save 44 seconds or 29 cents.

Q: Do red-light cameras invade privacy by filming everyone who travels through an intersection?

A: Courts determined years ago that drivers on public roads have no expectation of privacy. Besides this fact, no electricity goes to RedSpeed’s cameras until after the light has turned red. There are no pictures taken of the driver, only the license plate. Violations are photographed from the rear, which does not identify the driver and passengers.

Q: Do red-light cameras send out violations automatically without regard to circumstances?

A: Every violation is reviewed by no less than four people, one of which is a local police officer. The local officers have the last word and can apply the same discretion they would if they were sitting at the light in a patrol car.

Q: Does the recipient of violation notices have the opportunity to contest the charge?

A: Just like an officer-issued ticket, you can go to court and contest your ticket. With a camera-issued ticket, pictures and video of the alleged violation are provided to you and the judge. The judge has final authority to determine if a fine is appropriate. If you disagree with the judge, you can appeal the ticket to a higher court.

Q: Are red-light cameras all about money or safety?

A: It has been proved that these systems reduce accidents, curb violations and save lives. RedSpeed’s own data indicates a 35 percent to 43 percent reduction of intersection crashes where cameras are deployed. Yes, the cities and the red-light companies make money. The cities can generate revenue while improving safety and not increasing taxes. The red-light companies make significant investments in these communities and make a profit in line with the level of risk that they take.