Sheriff speaks out against traffic cameras, saying they're wrong, and rids his county of them

**Terminator** · 01-04-09, 07:41 PM

TUCSON - Pima County officials want to install 20 speed-enforcement cameras to slow traffic, while neighboring Pinal County is pulling them because the new sheriff believes they are strictly used to make money. Pima County supervisors are expected to vote next week on a proposal to deploy 10 fixed and 10 mobile speed-enforcement cameras. They would supplement cameras already used by the city of Tucson and a statewide program being implemented by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Tickets would be processed by county Justice Courts.
Supervisors will consider the $1.5 million one-year contract with American Traffic Solutions Inc. of Scottsdale on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, new Pina County Sheriff Paul Babeu had ended a contract with Scottsdale-based Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. to operate mobile traffic cameras in his county.
"I am against it, not only because I'm a strict constitutionalist, but I believe that the main purpose, is it's driven to create money for the government, in this budget deficit that's what the whole design is" Babeu said in a video shot by a group opposed to photo enforcement called CameraFRAUD and posted on its Web site on Friday. "It's corrupting law enforcement for us to be partnered with a private entity that creates revenue. Purely that's their interest.
"I've never yet seen a photo-radar camera arrest a drunk driver or arrest a person with a warrant, see if somebody has insurance or to just simply give directions to somebody, " Babeu said, adding that he supports red-light cameras because they are clearly safety related.
A DPS spokesman told KNXV-TV in Phoenix that Babeu is entitled to his opinion but DPS photo-enforcement operations will continue in Pinal County.
Babeu said he's hoping that incoming Gov. Jan Brewer will end the statewide photo enforcement.

**Five-0** · 01-04-09, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

Babeu said, adding that he supports red-light cameras because they are clearly safety related.

Pretty sure that there have been studies concluding that red light cameras actually increase the number of accidents at intersections. ie rear end accidents due to people slamming on the brakes at intersections with the cameras.

**IndianaFuzz** · 01-04-09, 09:44 PM

Kudos to the Sheriff for standing up for his beliefs instead of caving into to the financial pressure in these hard economic times. It could have been easy for him to say he is against them, but still allow them because the county needs money.

**Xiphos** · 01-04-09, 10:14 PM

I don't see how you can differentiate between speed cameras and red light cameras. They both do the same thing for dangerous traffic infractions and both are money making ventures with private entities. He loses all credibility supporting one but not the other. Shit or get off the pot dude.