Arizona voters to decide future of traffic cameras statewide

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The fate of traffic cameras in cities across Arizona will soon be in the hands of voters.

Over the weekend, lawmakers approved a November ballot measure that would require voter approval for cities to continue operating photo enforcement programs, such as speed and red-light cameras.

You would be hard-pressed to find a more controversial traffic safety device in Arizona. But the big question is, do they help, and are they effective?

Stephanie Qualman is the manager of HTC Uptown, a piercing studio near one of the cameras in the Melrose District.

“I mean, I’m seeing them (flash) probably once maybe every like 15-ish minutes,” Qualman said.

A little over three months ago, the City of Phoenix rolled out its traffic enforcement cameras, 17 of them put up across the area, in hopes of changing driving behavior.

If approved by voters, the ballot measure would put a statewide ban on photo enforcement cameras, like the ones in Phoenix, and prohibit local authorities or state agencies from using them to ticket drivers, unless they already have cameras up and running.

Jurisdictions that receive voter approval could continue using photo enforcement systems for 10 years before returning to voters for another vote.

The City of Phoenix says it has a neutral position because it’s a ballot measure, but praised the program’s success during its 30-day warning period in March.

“During the warning period of the Photo Safety Program, we saw an alarming number of drivers exceeding safe speeds,” said Briiana Velez, street transportation director. “This is exactly why Photo Safety Cameras are an important tool for the City of Phoenix in improving roadway safety. We’re hopeful that as we move into the next phase, everyone who uses Phoenix streets will slow down and drive the posted speed limit.”

“Speed continues to be one of the most common factors in severe and fatal collisions,” said Phoenix Police Cmdr. Nicholas DiPonzio. “The high number of events recorded during the warning period underscores how critical this program is. Our goal is simple: help everyone who lives, works and visits Phoenix reach their destination safely.”

The City of Tempe also has cameras, and the city’s traffic enforcement unit says they are doing what they were designed for.

“Our rear-end collisions at those intersections are down, our overall collisions are down at those 14 intersections, and we have not had a fatality at an intersection where we have photo enforcement,” Tempe Lt. Greg Bacon said.

But back inside HTC Uptown, Qualman says the continuous reflection of flashes isn’t a factor.

“I think just the presence of a police car itself helps with the speed of traffic in that area. Cameras don’t really do anything until somebody realizes they’ve been caught,” Qualman said.

If anything, it’s a reminder of how fast drivers go.

Enforcement is another challenge. The fine print requires citations to be personally served, making personal accountability the deciding factor.

The vote will be coming up on the November ballot.

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