Denver Auditor Labels Red Light Cameras As A Profit Machine - Safety Not A Consideration

After performing a thorough performance audit, Denver, Colorado's city auditor is no longer convinced of the value of red light cameras and speed cameras. The Denver Police Department (DPD) deputized the Dallas-based firm Affiliated Computer Services (ACS, a division of Xerox) to issue red light tickets at four intersections and speeding tickets throughout the city with five roaming vans. The program has little more to show for itself than a profitable bottom line.

"Unfortunately, DPD has not demonstrated that the photo radar program has a positive impact on public safety," City Auditor Dennis J. Gallagher wrote. "Because these programs were sold as public safety enhancements but are widely viewed as a cash grab, it undermines public trust to maintain photo enforcement programs that are profitable but whose safety impact has not been conclusively shown. If this situation persists, then the photo enforcement programs should be shut down."

The audit noted the speed van program has been operating since 2002 without any objective measurement of the impact on safety. Instead, city officials relied on the report of the number of violations generated by ACS as the sole measure of effectiveness.

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Joe_Limon - 12/20/2011 11:46:27 AM

+1 Boost

There is a photoradar truck that I pass every single day to work. The road it is on has no speed limit signs up until a couple km past it down the road there is a 60. I received one ticket from it, citing a 50kph speed limit. Since then, every time I see it I grow more and more disdain for this cash grab.

monster - 12/20/2011 12:40:35 PM

+1 Boost

show me one person who has not gone beyond speed limit. Also why make cars that goes beyond 70mph. This is a money making scheme. I have a red light traffic camera in my town that changes from red to green as soon as the other side turns red... within the same millisecond. How same is that?

Joe_Limon - 12/20/2011 12:45:41 PM

+1 Boost

How can I know if I was speeding if there wasn't a sign specifying anything other than 60kph? Get the ticket and adjust my speed accordingly? That's bull!

Joe_Limon - 12/20/2011 12:50:41 PM

+1 Boost

Talking with some people at work, there was a sign, but they keep cutting it down... ffs

Agent009 - 12/20/2011 12:55:31 PM

+1 Boost

It is the perfect scam: pass out high fine tickets and then make sure the laws prevent you from proclaiming your innocence. Or even better you pay regardless if it is you or not behind the wheel innocent or not.

BondMI6 - 12/20/2011 12:40:05 PM

+3 Boost

Ha, that's pretty funny 1911.

Seriously though, tickets have stopped being a safety tool ever since local governments realized they were spending more than they were taking in and needed a quick fix.

An average speeding ticket in L.A. costs 300-400 dollars. That is more than what many people will spend on an entire Xmas......

internationalmanofmystery - 12/21/2011 10:34:02 AM

+1 Boost

"...To boost the number of tickets, ACS and Denver began ticketing people who stopped at red lights -- but their car was photographed protruding a few inches beyond the stop bar"

"...have ACS conduct a study to justify continuing the ACS program by June 30, 2013"