D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
March 2010
The Fast and the Furious
Some Las Crucens are seeing red over the city's year-old traffic camera system.
By Jeff Berg
There are four red light districts in Las Cruces. No, not the kind that would raise eyebrows among those who are appalled by "victimless" crime, but rather four major intersections in the city where "Redflex" cameras have been installed to vicariously nab traffic offenders and fine them anonymously. The cameras are set up to nab red light runners, speeders and right-turn-on-red violators.
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With all of the carping about the city of Las Cruces' decision to install the red light cameras hither and yon, one might think that the city had decided to revoke the driver's licenses of all of the city's lousy drivers. Admittedly, that would mean that most of us would be on foot, bike or the much-maligned Roadrunner bus system, but that's not quite the case. The controversial red light cameras are meant to increase public safety as well as the city's revenue.
Las Cruces must surely be the home of the old elbow-in-ribs joke that "traffic lights are only suggestions." In all the places I have lived, I have never seen lights so flagrantly ignored as they are in the sometimes appropriately named "city of crosses." I've learned that if I'm first in line at a traffic signal, I always look both ways when the light turns green, or if there is a car in the lane next to me, I allow that driver to "ride point" and enter the intersection first.
After all, this is a city where I often see drivers sit on railroad tracks waiting for red lights to turn green.
Perhaps with this type of activity in mind, about a year ago city officials approved installation of a system from an outfit called Redflex Traffic Systems, an Australian company whose US base is in Phoenix. Redflex's founders are brilliant: They don't sell the system to a municipality and walk away; they stick around and get a percentage of the profits. In fiscal year 2009, the company netted $9.6 million on $130.9 million in revenue.
Redflex, according to its website, has been around for more than 20 years, working with various burgs to stop scofflaws and make them pay through their wallet for traffic infractions. Redflex can also set up camera systems for railroad crossings, stop sign runners and license plate ID, as well as mobile cameras for roving use.
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Nearly 250 cities and towns around the US now use Redflex photo enforcement. In New Mexico, Santa Fe and Albuquerque are on board, as are our neighbors to the south in El Paso. Across the country, city size seems to matter little, since Redflex is in place in places like Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and San Jose, Calif., but also in Fife, Wash. (population 5,000 in the 2000 census), and good old Bullhead City, Ariz., population about 40,000. Other companies have contracts with other cities, including Denver, Los Angeles and New York.
Arizona's Department of Public Safety introduced the cameras in September 2008, but is now pondering removing those used on highways to nab speeders. (The system snaps only those going 11 mph or more over the limit; Las Cruces will not disclose the limit set on its Redflex cameras.) The department had 76 cameras in place around Arizona as of January, which had led to 700,000 tickets in a single year. Since it is nearly impossible for these tickets to be followed up on, however, only $36.8 million of the $127 million in fines levied had actually been collected. Drivers who get photographed know this, and have a predilection to ignore the ticket that comes in the mail. Since the state has no way to prove a driver ever actually received a ticket in the mail, it's tough to enforce.
Collection agencies can be used for follow up on Redflex offenses, although at least in Las Cruces, this method is not overly effective — yet. Vehicle confiscation is also allowed as the "ultimate" punishment.
In Las Cruces, debate has been hot and heavy over the use of the cameras, which are set up at only four major intersections (see box). If you get caught, it will cost you 100 big ones. From March 30, 2009, through Jan. 8 of this year, 22,657 violations had been issued (remember, this is for four intersections), and $234,068 collected for the city. Redflex and the state of New Mexico share in this cash-cow pie — Redflex actually gets more than the city does — so the city of Las Cruces gets only about 25% of the total collected. There was no upfront cost for the city of Las Cruces to install the Redflex system. All monies come from you, the errant leadfoot. The city thanks you.
To put it mildly, not everyone is a fan. For an, ummm, opposing view to Redflex, check this guy's rambling website: dontflashmebro.com/chapter6.html His comments at the city council workshop meeting I attended almost resulted in him being escorted from the council chambers. At least his site disavows the extreme action taken by one angry violator (presumably) in Phoenix last May, where a Redflex photo-radar operator was killed. (Redflex also operates internationally, and in England some cameras have been set on fire.)