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The number of citations has decreased by two-thirds since 2009, with 1,418 issued this year, according to police records. Those numbers, coupled with a decrease in collisions, show the cameras are working, said city manager Scott Spence.
“Three years into program, it seems to have positive results,” he said.
The program is self-sustained by citations, so a lower revenue stream doesn’t mean the city will have to fork out additional funds, Spence said.
The $250,000 in revenue this year comes after the city paid up to $110,400 to American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz., the maximum ATS can collect, according to Spence. The city has a neutral-cost contract with the provider, meaning that if citations decrease to $80,000, the city will pay that amount to ATS and collect no revenue.
Police officials don’t expect the number of red-light runners to continue to decline.
“I think we’ve probably seen it as far as it will go down,” said Chief Dusty Pierpoint. “The red-light cameras are just another thing to help. They are not the solution, but they are a tool to try to reduce risk.”
Initiatives regarding red-light cameras got a thumbs-down from voters in three Washington cities this week, adding fuel to the discussion of the controversial cameras.
Spence said he was unaware of the particulars of each situation, but that Lacey’s decision to use cameras came from public concern.
“It’s been a public-safety project from the beginning,” Spence said.
The city’s contract with the ATS is up for renewal in August, and the police department likely won’t push for new camera locations.
The department surveyed the intersection at Martin Way and Marvin Road in May, and there weren’t enough violations to require cameras, said Cmdr. Chris Ward, who manages the city’s camera program. Ward said the city has looked at several other intersections; there are no plans to study other intersections in 2012.
“We’re not going to put cameras in just to put them in,” he said.
City Councilman Jason Hearn, who chairs the transportation committee, said he would like to see the cameras removed once the intersection’s safety is on par with that of others.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476
nhulings@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
