KC Police: Red Light Cameras Too Effective
Nearly 7,000 Tickets Written In Three Months
POSTED: 9:06 am CDT July 2,
2009
UPDATED: 9:36 am CDT July 2,
2009
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City officials say cameras at 20 intersections in the city are catching enough red-light runners every three days to pay for operating the devices.The problem is, so many people are running red lights that the Police Department needs four more officers -- or more funding for overtime -- to keep the program going.In the program's first three months, 6,900 tickets have been issued to motorists who blow through red lights, with a fine of $100 per ticket. But instead of being a big revenue boost, the cameras are making it necessary for officers to monitor computer screens all day to make sure the tickets are legitimate.Officials said each camera would have to catch 45 red-light runners per month to break even.The most recent addition to the cameras came in late May with four new cameras at the intersections of North Oak Trafficway and Vivion Road, N.W. 68th Street and U.S. 169 highway, 23rd Street and Interstate 435, and Winner Road and I-435.Ten more of the cameras are to be installed by mid-July.
Copyright 2009 by KCTV5.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
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