At least two Texas cities are openly defying the will of the state House of Representatives which earlier this month voted 107-36 to ban red light cameras. Texas lawmakers, unlike their counterparts in other states, decided to allow cities with existing red light camera contracts to keep issuing citations until those contracts expired on their own. The proposed law would then prohibit any new contracts after June 1. This week, the cities of Arlington and Southlake took a slap at that generous exception. Arlington’s city council on Tuesday unanimously decided to change the city’s five-year contract with American Traffic Solutions into a twenty-year contract.
Long-term photo contracts are rare in the US as cities—such as Scottsdale, Arizona and Washington, DC— prefer to have the ability to switch contractors to ensure a competitive bidding process. Arlington decided to bind future councils for nearly twenty years after a debate that lasted a full twenty-five seconds.
“I’d like to make a motion to approve 7C5 with the additional stipulation that we limit staff’s ability to negotiate and execute the modification with American Traffic Solutions to include an out for the city,” the only city councilman to speak on the matter said.
The Southlake City Council likewise ordered the city attorney to work on a long-term contract extension with Australia’s Redflex Traffic Systems. If the experience of other states is any guide, however, Arlington and Southlake could find their clever move backfire. In a similar circumstance last month, a number of Montana state lawmakers were incensed by cities attempting to adopt new contracts before a legislative deadline for a camera ban containing a large exception.
“We saw a couple municipalities rush to get contracts signed before the effective date of the bill — which I found offensive,” Montana state Senator John Brueggeman (R-Polson) said.
Montana legislators fired back by stripping the exceptions and imposing a total ban.
Arlington city leaders are not only defying the state House, they may also be defying the will of voters. Although the city’s residents have never had the opportunity to vote on the issue of red light cameras directly, they came close in February 2003. Fifty-eight percent of voters had shot down a bond package known as Proposition 6, the first time a bond proposal for expanding street capacity had ever been rejected in the city.
The most controversial aspect of the proposition was setting aside extra money for surveillance “traffic cameras” which critics at the time said would serve as a precursor to red light cameras. Nine months later, the bond measure was split into two distinct provisions and placed once again on the ballot. When asked in a separate vote to spend $400,000 for “traffic management cameras,” 64 percent of voters said “no.”
The full Texas Senate must now weigh in on the question of whether red light cameras should be banned. If state senators disagree with the House attempt to ban cameras, a conference committee will be called to work out a compromise measure before sending the final bill to the governor for his signature.
It figures that Arlington and Southlake would pull some shit like that. I’m surprised that other cities in the area, like Watauga, Richland Hills, and Irving haven’t followed suit. I guess it’s not June 1 yet though. The most frustrating thing about all of these cameras is that taxpayers don’t get to vote for/against them. It’s a load of crap.
Another reason why it’s sad that the new Cowboys stadium is in Arlington. That city is worthless. I avoid going there if at all possible.
I didn’t think Wautauga had any cams. They are spreading like freakin wildfire in Southlake though.
I grew up in Arlington.. got out of there as fast as I could. It’s gone downhill ever since. I hope this move in turn causes Texas to respond the same way Montana did. One tiny victory for the people!
It’s nice to hear that Houston isn’t playing games after this ruling. Which is even more reason why this town is better than that cosmopolitan Dallas place. (kidding, I think)
How about a constitutional amendment banning red light cameras? I’m sure there are enough people willing to sign that petition.
@ lersxt: There are huge cameras at the intersection of Beach and Western Center Blvd that were installed several months ago. When the light turns red you can see the camera flash from a block away! I thought it was lightning the first time I saw it from a distance. I know Watauga in general is pretty big on tickets as a source of revenue. I’m not sure off the top of my head where there may be more cameras, but I can’t imagine them having just the one set.
This article assumes that the Texas Senate will agree with it’s House and end the contracts for good. I’m not so sure.
And the June 1 deadline is when (normal) legislative business ends until 2011.
Check out the Senate’s track record on this (from the first article linked above, concerning the recent vote)
It is a close call whether the sunset provision will make it into law, based on the Texas legislature’s history with red light cameras. Between 1995 and 2003 the House rejected open attempts to authorize the cameras in four legislative sessions. That did not stop Representative Linda Harper-Brown (R-Irving) who snuck a one-sentence provision allowing municipalities to issue “civil” citations for traffic crimes into unrelated legislation dealing with commercial motor vehicle standards. The provision became law in 2003. Many House members were furious at what they saw as an underhanded move and voted by a three-to-one margin to overturn the provision. The state Senate, however, did not share the enthusiasm of the House. Although a majority of senators voted to strip Harper-Brown’s langauge, the Senate leadership allowed the effort to die with a parliamentary maneuver.
(emphasis added)
We’ll see in a week or so…
Those arlington red light cameras are (i’m sure) a great source of income for the city. My dad has become more than familiar with them. Did you know that they send you videos of you running the light? Police in the area have become more active recently. It’s probably so that they can meet that end of the month quota, but whatever the reason I can see why the TX government is fairing so well, they’re receiving large involuntary donations from many a speeder and red light runner. First they raise the sales tax to pay for the freakin spaceship called the Cowboys Stadium, and now they’re running the police rampant on the streets. In between the traffic and the cops, relaxing cruises on the highway have become the dream of urbanites and only the reality of those luckily (late?) enough to still live in the “Frontier of Texas,” otherwise known as the vast expanse of land Mexico didn’t want called west Texas.
If I know Texans, they will be using certain static objects for target practice. And I DO know Texans. They can only be pushed so far.
These cities better hope that the Texas legislature doesn’t decide to totally ban the cameras in the state. I haven’t seen their contracts, but they might be liable for some massive penalties if they sever the agreement.