Message from Commissioner Aaronson

I have been on a crusade to have cameras installed at intersections to help prevent red-light running since 1999 when I received some alarming statistics. In 1997 and 1998, accidents resulting from drivers disregarding traffic signals totaled 2,624. There were 37 fatalities. I began to research the use of surveillance cameras at intersections throughout the country. In 1999, there were 1,319 accidents resulting from drivers disregarding traffic signals. There were 11 fatalities including the six residents from the Whisper Walk community. I became convinced that the County had to take action.

I took my case to the County Commission and the Board approved a two-month pilot project. The project consisted of using surveillance cameras at an intersection in the County to monitor how many vehicles ran a red light. I was dismayed at the results. During the first month, an average of fifty cars a day ran the light. The number dropped to twenty the second month following heavy publicity. One fifth of those who ran a red light did so two seconds after the light had changed. This certainly demonstrated that the use of cameras would help cut down on the red-light running and have a major impact on reducing preventable accidents, injuries and deaths. There would be fewer calls to the County's Fire Rescue Department and to the Sheriff's Office and less demand on our overcrowded hospital emergency rooms.

I went back to the County Commission and advocated for a law that would catch and fine red-light runners. As a result, the County made "Traffic Safety Photo Enforcement" a priority issue in 2001 and urged our Legislators to amend the statutes to permit traffic tickets to be issued using photographic evidence produced by surveillance cameras. Other states have successfully implemented programs and proved that cameras at intersections do make a difference. Bills were introduced in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 but no action was taken by the Legislature.

Bills have been filed for the 2008 Legislative Session. I have just returned from Tallahassee where I met with many legislators urging that the bills be considered and passed this year. The County has received encouraging news that we may be successful this time. I am optimistic but not convinced and so I continue the battle. At my urging, the County Commission approved placing an item on this month's agenda to advertise for a public hearing this May. A proposed ordinance will come before the County Commission that, if adopted, will authorize the use of unmanned camera/monitoring systems to promote compliance with red light directives and adopt a civil enforcement system with penalties and an appeal process for red light violations.

We have waited long enough. If the Legislature does not pass the bills this year, we will be ready to act on a county level. It is time to win this battle. It is time for my eight-year crusade to come to an end.