The Austin City Council unanimously approved a pilot program to test automated red-light cameras at 15 intersections.
Tf the council decides to use the program permanently, it would punish drivers caught running red lights on camera with a civil offense. First-time violators would pay $75, and a double fine would be issued as a penalty for having three or more violations within a year.
The 60-day pilot program will begin testing red-light cameras in February. The council has not yet decided where the cameras will be located, and no citations will be issued during the test period.
As of July 2006, seven of Austin's 35 traffic fatalities in 2006 involved running a red light, according to the Austin Police Department. The red-light camera program will reduce fatal crashes and injuries 25 percent at monitored intersections, according to the ordinance.
Debbie Russell, opponent of the ordinance and board member for the Central Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of
Texas, said the cameras invade privacy, violate due process of the law and cause rear-end collisions by prompting drivers to slam on their brakes when they see the cameras' flashes. Russell also accused proponents of the legislation of using biased studies to support the program.
"The city's main proponent cites a lobbyist's study," Russell said. "They need to use independent studies and see how the program plays out in Houston."
Houston's red-light cameras program began earlier this year. Russell claims some violators may not pay for red-light camera tickets in Houston, because they think of themselves as innocent.
Council members Jennifer Kim, Lee Leffingwell and Mike Martinez proposed an automated red-light enforcement resolution adopted in July to reduce traffic crashes and improve public safety. The new ordinance is the first measure created in line with the resolution.
"I appreciate the response," Martinez said. "But it's fairly short sighted to look at the council and say that we have only done with lobbyists."
Russell argues there are more effective ways to increase safety at traffic lights. According to a study by the Texas Transportation Institute, increasing yellow-light times by one second would effectively reduce crashes by 40 percent.
A bilingual education campaign and continuous oversight will follow up to measure the effectiveness of the test program, Kim said.
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