Eyes on the road

Red light cameras raise city money, but some students feel targeted by placement

By: Nathan Ball

Posted: 2/20/08

Drivers should be extra careful at traffic lights from now on. The College Station Cameras Advancing Redlight Enforcement Safety, C.A.R.E.S., system began issuing fines for running red lights Monday. Four cameras are in place, and if they are successful, the city plans to install as many as nine more at intersections across town.

The top four accident-prone intersections together accounted for 310 collisions in 2007, said the City of College Station Police Department. None of those intersections are monitored by the traffic cameras.

The locations of the cameras are Texas Avenue at Walton Drive, Harvey Road at Munson Avenue, Harvey Road at George Bush Drive East and Wellborn at George Bush Drive. The cameras are near Texas A&M University, and most students will pass at least one of these cameras regularly as they drive around campus.

The cameras take three pictures of a car as it proceeds through the intersection, said College Station Traffic Engineer Troy Rother. "When the signal turns red and a motion sensor determines that you cannot stop, it takes a picture before you enter the intersection, in the middle of the intersection and finally, the camera takes a picture of your license plate."

Research shows it would be prudent to be careful at yellow lights. The city council's research indicates that, in some cities, the installation of red light cameras has increased the number of rear-end accidents.

Funding is a consideration. The council has authorized expenditures not to exceed $300,000 annually to be spent maintaining C.A.R.E.S. The system is expected to generate enough revenue in fines to pay for itself. Any profits will be split between the city and state, with some money going toward local shelter and nonprofit organizations.

Any public surveillance system, especially one that automatically issues fines, has the potential to cause a public outcry - and the city has been cautious in this regard. A written report presented to the city council in 2006 states: "The success of a red light system depends upon community support. Constructive dialogue is necessary with the city of Bryan, Texas A&M University, the school district, local businesses and other community organizations. One or more city employees should be designated the city's spokesperson for the program and trained accordingly." All public relations statements come through the office of the city traffic engineer.

Though originally unopposed to C.A.R.E.S, some in student government are unsure of what to make of the camera placements."If safety is the No. 1 issue, then why not place these cameras at the most dangerous intersections?" said Nick Adams, a junior telecommunication major.

Adams said that the two cameras on Harvey are next to student housing, including several sorority and fraternity houses whose residents will have to pass these cameras every day on the way to classes. "These cameras should be placed at the more dangerous intersections where they will get students and local people and reduce the number of accidents," he said.

The Student Senate worked with the city council during the 2007 spring semester to understand what the impact of these cameras would be on students in College Station. Kristina Campbell, former external affairs chairwoman in the Senate and a senior accounting major, was involved with the process.

"The College Station City Council discussed this with the Student Senate as being a means to increase safety and reduce accidents," Campbell said. "We believed that the student body would be benefited by these cameras, not targeted by them."

Whether or not student drivers are being targeted, the surest way they can avoid these fines is by making sure to stop at red lights every time to avoid a citation.