With between 250-275 traffic moving violations a month written by Covington Police Department, Covington Police Chief Richard Palmisano said, “We have a traffic problem in Covington.”

Prior to the Covington City Council meeting Tuesday night, Redflex Traffic Systems Photo Enforcement presented a program on its camera system for red light violations and speeding.

The purpose of this demonstration is now unclear.

Will red lights in the city limits of Covington be monitored for speeders and/or stopping violations? (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

In an e-mail yesterday afternoon, Councilman Lee Alexius stated that the council was not considering use of the camera and the “work session was not called by any council member and was in fact called by either the Mayor (Candace Watkins) or Covington Police Chief (Richard Palmisano) to give the demonstration on the products.”

Alexius stated in the e-mail “the only way it ever would be considered is if someone brought it up as an agenda item. I don’t see any council members doing that and if the mayor or police chief wanted to do so it would be acted on then. I repeat, it is not being considered by the council for implementation.”

However, in an e-mail notifying the press of the work session, Council Clerk Diana W. MacKinnon stated, “The City Council for the City of Covington will hold a public hearing/work session in the Council Chamber located at 222 Kirkland Street to discuss a presentation by Charlie Buckels of Redflex Traffic Systems on Speed and Red Light Traffic Management.”

Public hearings are usually held when something is being considered for implementation.

Charlie Buckles said the purpose of the cameras is to help modify behavior by getting people to slow down and stop at red lights. He said the cameras reduce the number of speed related crashes by 75 percent.

Buckles said that 400 cameras are in use in 26 states.

While the use of the cameras can reduce red light accidents, according to Buckles, they do not increase rear end collisions. Councilman Marty Benoit questioned the Department of Transportation Development’s statistics that said rear end collisions increased by 18 percent.

Benoit also said that the Louisiana DOTD did not feel there was enough of a problem in Covington to put in roundabouts, or traffic circles; Benoit than questioned why the city should pursue red light cameras.

The system would film a traffic accident, whether running a red light or speeding, then scan the license plate. Buckles said the camera reduces red light violations (running the light) by 50 percent.

Buckles also said that of traffic fatalities, 32 are attributed to Driving Under the Influence, or DUI, but 31 percent are attributed to speeding.

He said use of the system is funded 100 percent by violators, and there is no financial risk for the city.

Councilman Lee Alexius asked Buckles if the costs are feasible to the company when there are only 9,000 people in the city. Buckles said that the system can be effective against speeding problems and could be placed in multiple positions.

The system would work as follows: the violation would be downloaded to the main office in Phoenix and viewed. The license match is then matched to the owner of the vehicle. The information is sent for a police review and authorization locally. Then a citation would then be printed and mailed along with supporting materials of photos to the vehicle owner.

The owner then has the option of paying the citation, transfer the citation to the responsible driver other then the owner, or requesting a hearing to contest the ticket. “Due process is followed,” said Buckles.

Buckles also said the Automobile Association of the South, AAA, and the National Safety Council have endorsed the use of red light cameras.

The amount of the citations and the perimeters set for speeding citations, etc., would be determined by the city. City Attorney Deborah Foshee said that currently, a speeding ticket for between 11-20 mph over the limit is about $200 with almost half of that sent to the state. Redflex would garner 40 percent of the ticket amount.

Since most of the city’s red lights are on state highways, one councilman questioned whether the system is permitted for use on those highways. Buckles said that many states have regulations or guidelines for their use, but they are allowed.

Lauren Lee of the DOTD said yesterday that the municipality has to provide information that the camera is warranted in that location before placing the camera at the site.

The matter was not considered for action by the City Council Tuesday, but many councilmen are requesting comments on the matter from their constituents.

As far as reducing the number of deaths due to speeding or red light violations, Palmisano said there have been no traffic fatalities this year in the city.