Red light cameras come into focus in Houston

11:54 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2005

By Jeremy Desel / 11 News

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Now that a legislative roadblock is out of the way red light cameras may soon be watching drivers.

The city is picking up the pace in its push to install red light cameras, and it could happen as soon as three weeks. When you watch the cars at many Houston intersections, you might wonder if people here are color blind.

KHOU-TV

Red light cameras could appear in some Houston intersections in three weeks.

They certainly don't seem to see the color red very well.

"I've done it myself, ran a few red lights. Well, 'orange' I should say," says driver Jason Snyder.

That is why Mayor White has been pushing for red light cameras. It is one way he hopes to help people see enough red to stop.

"As a driver I just think that it would be a lot safer on the roads if they were there," says Snyder.

Now that a legislative attempt to ban the cameras has failed, the city is waisting no time in getting the camera program rolling.

"It'll be worth it because it will stop people from running the light," says driver Joshua Bullock.

Perhaps, but not all drivers are ready for Big Brother, the cop in a box.

"It just makes me uneasy. it just feels very creepy," says Sophie Wight.

There are plenty of possibilities for the city, but the top ten intersections for red light citations are:
•Southwest Freeway feeder at Hillcroft
•Federal @ Dorwayne
•Southwest Freeway at Bellaire
•the feeder at Bellaire and at Beechnut
•Beltway 8 at Bellaire
•Wayside at Market
•Waugh at D'Amico
•Jefferson at Chenevert downtown
and topping all intersections, with 882 citations issued, • Harwin and Hillcroft in southwest Houston

HPD says in the next 15 to 30 days, bids will be received from a number of companies that provide red light systems. The top three or four bidders will be chosen to participate in a 30-day trial.

Those systems will be set up at test intersections.

An assessment team including HPD, City Legal, and Public Works will evaluate and choose the system to be installed.

No matter who provides the systems, they are very expensive. The camera units cost between $50,000 and $100,000, and most intersections require four cameras. Many of the packages come in on a per-month basis.

The total cost of having four cameras at an intersection can run from $20,000 to $28,000. The city hopes to recoup those costs with the revenue from the tickets that will be issued.