They're watching you
Red-light cameras could be installed in Pickerington
By TIERRA PALMER
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
tlpalmer@nncogannett.com
PICKERINGTON - Residents with a penchant for speeding and reckless driving might want to pump their brakes. That's because red light cameras could be coming to a major intersection near you.
Pickerington City Council will meet Tuesday night to discuss a motion authorizing the city manager to send a letter of intent to Redflex Traffic Systems - the largest provider of digital red light and speed enforcement technology in North America, according to the company's Web site, www.redflex.com.
The Arizona-based company has contracts in more than 20 states and 180 cities, including Columbus, Dayton, Northwood, Springfield, Sylvania, Toledo and Trotwood, and is one of three vendors certified by the International Chiefs of Police.
''The letter of intent doesn't obligate the city to (purchase) anything,'' said city council member Keith Smith, who chairs the Safety Committee.
The committee met with a representative from Redflex Traffic earlier this spring, at the suggestion of Pickerington Police Chief Michael Taylor. Members subsequently voted to bring the idea before the full council following that presentation, Smith said.
''The most compelling reason is public safety. Taylor estimated that he spends the equivalent of one officer per day on intersection control (including) accidents and citations. Red light cameras would free up (law enforcement personnel),'' Smith said.
The devices would reduce the number of traffic crashes at heavily trafficked intersections such as the junction at state routes 256 and 204, council member Mike Sabatino said.
''I don't travel that everyday, but every time that I do, I observe people running the red light. And the unfortunate thing is that they put (other) drivers in jeopardy,'' he said.
Nearly half of all collisions - 48 percent - occur at intersections, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The installation of REDFLEXred cameras can significantly reduce the number of intersection accidents, according to data on the company's Web site.
For example, the number of T-bone accidents in Columbus has decreased by 47 percent since the first red light cameras went up in 2006. Similarly, red light citations have dropped 44 percent since Dayton implemented its SafeLight Dayton Red Light Enforcement Program in February 2003.
Council member Jeff Fix said he believes officials have an obligation to improve public safety.
''We have a responsibility to do anything we can within reason to make our community safer,'' Fix said.
Installing red light cameras ''is an idea worth exploring, and that's all we're advocating now,'' he said.
The cameras would be a source of revenue for the city, Smith said.
Sabatino said public response has been mostly favorable.
''I have spoken with a few residents about the possibility (of installing red light cameras), and the attitude pretty much was that if it will help improve safety and traffic (flow) better, they thought it would be an idea worth contemplating. The only people who would be opposed to this idea would be the people who don't plan on stopping anyway,'' he said.
Pickerington residents are invited to attend an information session before Tuesday's council meeting to learn more about red light cameras and photo enforcement technology.
What's Next
Pickerington City Council will meet Tuesday to consider a motion authorizing the city manager to send a letter of intent to Redflex Traffic Systems, the nation's leading provider of red light and speed enforcement devices.
That meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m., in City Hall, 100 Lockville Road.
Residents can learn more about photo enforcement technology during an information session before Tuesday's city council meeting. That presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Red-light cameras could be installed in Pickerington
By TIERRA PALMER
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
tlpalmer@nncogannett.com
PICKERINGTON - Residents with a penchant for speeding and reckless driving might want to pump their brakes. That's because red light cameras could be coming to a major intersection near you.
Pickerington City Council will meet Tuesday night to discuss a motion authorizing the city manager to send a letter of intent to Redflex Traffic Systems - the largest provider of digital red light and speed enforcement technology in North America, according to the company's Web site, www.redflex.com.
The Arizona-based company has contracts in more than 20 states and 180 cities, including Columbus, Dayton, Northwood, Springfield, Sylvania, Toledo and Trotwood, and is one of three vendors certified by the International Chiefs of Police.
''The letter of intent doesn't obligate the city to (purchase) anything,'' said city council member Keith Smith, who chairs the Safety Committee.
The committee met with a representative from Redflex Traffic earlier this spring, at the suggestion of Pickerington Police Chief Michael Taylor. Members subsequently voted to bring the idea before the full council following that presentation, Smith said.
''The most compelling reason is public safety. Taylor estimated that he spends the equivalent of one officer per day on intersection control (including) accidents and citations. Red light cameras would free up (law enforcement personnel),'' Smith said.
The devices would reduce the number of traffic crashes at heavily trafficked intersections such as the junction at state routes 256 and 204, council member Mike Sabatino said.
''I don't travel that everyday, but every time that I do, I observe people running the red light. And the unfortunate thing is that they put (other) drivers in jeopardy,'' he said.
Nearly half of all collisions - 48 percent - occur at intersections, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The installation of REDFLEXred cameras can significantly reduce the number of intersection accidents, according to data on the company's Web site.
For example, the number of T-bone accidents in Columbus has decreased by 47 percent since the first red light cameras went up in 2006. Similarly, red light citations have dropped 44 percent since Dayton implemented its SafeLight Dayton Red Light Enforcement Program in February 2003.
Council member Jeff Fix said he believes officials have an obligation to improve public safety.
''We have a responsibility to do anything we can within reason to make our community safer,'' Fix said.
Installing red light cameras ''is an idea worth exploring, and that's all we're advocating now,'' he said.
The cameras would be a source of revenue for the city, Smith said.
Sabatino said public response has been mostly favorable.
''I have spoken with a few residents about the possibility (of installing red light cameras), and the attitude pretty much was that if it will help improve safety and traffic (flow) better, they thought it would be an idea worth contemplating. The only people who would be opposed to this idea would be the people who don't plan on stopping anyway,'' he said.
Pickerington residents are invited to attend an information session before Tuesday's council meeting to learn more about red light cameras and photo enforcement technology.
What's Next
Pickerington City Council will meet Tuesday to consider a motion authorizing the city manager to send a letter of intent to Redflex Traffic Systems, the nation's leading provider of red light and speed enforcement devices.
That meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m., in City Hall, 100 Lockville Road.
Residents can learn more about photo enforcement technology during an information session before Tuesday's city council meeting. That presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.
