Special offer

Can You Ignore Red Light Cameras in St. Peters or Wentzville?

By
Real Estate Agent with REMAX Gold

Three years ago St. Louis joined the growing number of U.S. cities that have installed red cameras at intersections, including five in nearby St. Peters and two in Wentzville.  Cities claim they are there are for safety, while opponents claim they are solely money makers.  State Senator Jim Lembke fueled the controversy by saying the violators should ignore tickets with little fear of penalty and is trying to have red light cameras banned via an amendment to a transportation bill.  Representatives from both St. Peters and Wentzville have countered that those who ignore the tickets will do so at risk of arrest.  The whole discussion might have been rendered mute by a Missouri State Supreme Court ruling on March 3 - but don't count on it.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled against the city of Springfield on March 3, 2010. Among other reasons, the court decided that cities do not have the right to set up red light programs that add no points to a driver's record just to make it easier to write tickets.  The also data showed that the yellow light was timed too short.  This ruling adds Missouri to the list of states that prohibit red light cameras.

Cities and other advocates of red light camera argue that cameras make intersections safer, as it makes drivers more careful.  No one doubts that improved safety is a positive goal or that people who run red lights are potentially dangerous; this issue is whether having red light camera tickets will have much of an impact.  Are cities being honest when they claim safety concerns or are they just after the money?  Studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety support the conclusion that there is a positive safety effect, but a growing number of studies, such as one from the University of South Florida's College of Public Health, claim that red light cameras actually increase rear end collisions as drivers slam on their brakes to save themselves a ticket, but are hit by surprised drivers behind them.  This has also been substantiated in Washington, DC, $32 million richer over six years but with higher rear end crash rates.  Even a Federal Highway Safety Administration study shows a 25% decrease in T-bone crashes but a 15% rise in the number and severity of rear end crashes. Merely retiming lights to increase the length of yellow lights by a few seconds decreases accidents - and fines.

Undoubtedly, cities are strapped for money in a weak economy as their tax bases weaken when companies go out of business or move away and as citizens experience layoffs.  Red light cameras can effortlessly collect revenue from residents and non-residents alike who speed or run red lights.  In St. Peters, an $85 ticket at México Rd. at Caves Spring or Jungermann Rds, three locations near Mid Rivers Mall Dr, or two locations on I-94, will generate an $85 fine.  Of this, nearly $50 goes to the company that installs the cameras (Redflex of Australia), $23 goes to court costs, and the balance goes to the city on a sliding scale of $12 for 0-90 tickets per months or $11 for 91-180 tickets per months.)  In the period from October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009, 3,302 citations have been issued in St. Peters, where half goes to senior citizen programs.  In Wentzville, where ticket costs are $100, the city receives $29 per ticket which goes to the general fund.  This amounted to $165,565 in 209 alone.  Not surprisingly, city officials in St. Louis and the suburbs are in favor of keeping the cameras snapping away.

Even police departments in the St Louis area question the cameras.  Country Club Hills police chief believes the one camera there "heightens everybody's awareness and makes them think twice before they race through that yellow turning to red light."  The Missouri Police Chief's Association is in favor of the cameras.  Gary Wiegert, President of the St. Louis Police officers Association feels that cameras may produce fines but do not accomplish what police do in the courses of a traffic stop.  "We want to be able to have policemen out there to pull over people for these violations.  There's more that goes into a ticket than just running a red light.  It goes into your driver's license, do you have a driver's license, do you have insurance, do you have contraband in the car; there's a whole bunch of things.  We want that interaction from police with the public."

Other critics argue that the cameras are unconstitutional and an invasion of privacy.  Some cities such as Arnold have been sued because the cameras used there do not capture a picture of the driver. (The cameras in St. Peters and Wentzville do capture the driver's picture as well as that of the license plate.) A group called Missourians Against Red Light Cameras claims drivers aren't being served properly and are having their 5th amendment rights violated because they have to incriminate themselves and attest they were driving the car. 

As the debate continues, St. Peters and Wentzville officials are adamant that red light citations must be paid or drivers will face the consequences.  Senator Lembke may claim that red light laws are a violation of state laws, but Donald Kohl, St. Peter Municipal Court judge says "disregard at your own peril."

Regardless of how the debate plays out, St. Peters is a great place to live.  Right now there are 728 properties,  with an average listing price of $203,466.  Check out www.thestlhomefinder.com and then call the Becky O'Neill POWER Team, where we promise a Positive Outcome With Exceptional Results. We specialize in fine properties in Wildwood, Chesterfield, Manchester, Glencoe, Ballwin, Ellisville, Ladue, Clayton, Fenton, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Clarkson Valley, St. Charles, St, Peters, O'Fallon, Town & Country, and the surrounding area in St. Louis or St. Charles Counties.

Comments (2)

Jon Zolsky
FunCoast Realty 386-405-4408 - Ponce Inlet, FL
your Daytona Condo Agent

Becky,

Timing on these makes me think that it is fiscal first and foremost. They need the money and they are looking for the ways to get it.

May 15, 2010 05:26 PM
Becky OnullNeill
REMAX Gold - Chesterfield, MO
The "Power" Home Selling Team
I agree, Jon. Some studies indicate that retiming lights and making yellow lights longer would have more impact on safety.
May 15, 2010 05:39 PM