Bethany Adams, For the Tribune
CENTER POINT— Last week, Center Point City Council voted to approve the commencement of a new Traffic Safety Program which is intended to reduce instances of speeding, stop sign running and red light running.
The program, dubbed the Center Point Automated Traffic Camera Enforcement Program, will utilize eight cameras to monitor traffic and record instances of violations along Center Point Parkway.
The system, designed by Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., includes three stop sign cameras at 25th Avenue NE and 23rd Avenue NE, as well as Reed Road and Polly Reed Road (both Eastbound and Southbound) and three red light and speed enforcement cameras crossing Center Point Parkway at 17th Avenue NW, 23rd Avenue and Polly Reed Road. In addition, the city will have two mobile units which can be placed at various locations in order to enforce speed limits. The cameras will record video and still images, as well as the time, date and location of the incident and, in some cases, the speed at which the driver was travelling.
The program is being installed in response to a high number of traffic violations on Center Point’s main roads. During an earlier City Council meeting, a Redflex representative gave a presentation including the results of a traffic study which was conducted over a 12-hour period at five major intersections. The study recorded 450 instances of drivers not coming to a complete stop at stop signs, 219 instances of drivers running red lights, and nearly 1,500 instances of drivers going at least 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
Donna Craigo, a Center Point resident who spoke during a public hearing on September 22, believes that the program is a much-needed change.
“There’s a problem,” Craigo said. “And what’s worse is there’s a lot of people that are still speeding through red lights. … They’re putting people’s lives in danger.”
According to Michael Cavaiola, Director of Communications at Redflex, photo enforcement systems have the ability to create significant change.
“A recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that 79 U.S. cities using photo enforcement saved nearly 1,300 lives through 2014,” Cavaiola said. “In cities that turned on red light cameras, there was an average 21 percent drop in fatal red light running crashes, and 14 percent fewer crashes of all types at signalized intersections.”
During the City Council meeting on September 22, council members unanimously approved the commencement of the program beginning with a 31-day warning period. During the warning period, which will last the month of October, drivers in violation of traffic laws will only receive a written warning. After the warning period has passed, violators will receive a maximum of three written citations, each with a 30-day response period.
City officials hope that the new system will lower instances of traffic-related injuries and fatalities
“It’s a very serious situation,” Mayor Henderson said. “We want people to be safe when they come to Center Point.”
40 Comments
Perry Seahorn
Well I stay out of Center Point as much as possible. And definitely will now.
Sabrina Millwee Meeks
Because speeding is Center Point’s main problem…
Myla Thomas
This is for revenue.
Michael J Land
Please put more cameras on 23rd NE. Speeding getting out of hand since they repaved our street.
Thomas Burleson
I love the people who complain about this. It’s simple don’t speed, don’t run red lights and stop at stop signs, is that so hard.
Greg Gunter
Center point going to make a lot of money from all these bad drivers.
Jason Putman
This is not about safety, this is about revenue. I agree with the statement about not speeding or running a stop sign/red light. But when the city was shut down the first time they made sure they created a public safety position so that there is someone in place to review footage and shelved the program until after the municipal elections. Center Point is all about safety, as long as it makes them money. Far more people are robbed, assaulted or killed in CP than are the victims of serious traffic accidents, yet the Council and Mayor are opposed to a police force.. Lets just call this what it is and be done with it.
Lori Mayes
Kody Allen
Nicole Gutierrez
Luis E Gutierrez
Tommy Everett
Waiting to see if yellow light time is reduced to trap drivers. Research it . Done for revenue not safety. All about the $$$$.
April Speanburg
Um, doesn’t Center Point have more important problems to deal with than traffic? Just saying…
Ashley Wilhite Hunt
Jennifer Vanderburg
Jennifer Vanderburg
Christopher Vanderburg
Carlie Brown
Eva Davis Brown
Amber Pepper Allcorn
Exactly
Brian Hallmark
One more good reason to stay out of Center Point.
Wendy Dunn Treglown
Here they go again.
Kody Allen
Good maybe there will be less wrecks now
Kevin Small
Let’s see. A for profit company,redflex, is installing cameras that the majority of the revenue goes to them…I wonder who is in charge of calibrating the system…I bet it’s redflex.
Kevin Small
Scott Buttram, have you all done any research on whether or not a private company can enforce traffic tickets written (especially being issued to a vehicle owner rather than the driver) or are they just counting on people just paying?
Kevin Small
Also, do you know the profit margin for the private company?
The Trussville Tribune
We know the state law was changed to accommodate the use of cameras, but we don’t have all the details on that, yet.
Kevin Small
The Trussville Tribune “yet”. I like that.
Jason Tucker
They won’t last long in center point. Either someone will steal them or shoot them down…
Jeff McDaniel
Wouldn’t red light cameras be considered unconstitutional under the 6th amendment?
Joe Domnanovich
Scam Cameras
Joe Domnanovich
Scam Cameras
Brian Wells
Glad i dont live there no more.
Dale Taylor
We need a camera at the corner of Terry Heights and Meadows Dr.
Donna Fields
I think so.
Tyler Franklin
Shawna Chapman Ragland you gonna run for mayor this time to get them removed?
Shawna Chapman Ragland
LoL I stirred enough trouble for the first time…. maybe we should put Jerry on it since he is retired! Too bad people voted these crooks back into office.
David Nichols
Just another revenue raising scheme…put cops out there writing tickets and create more jobs…police presence equals less crime ….oh and you will raise your revenue
Tyler Franklin
Get Jackson Ragland to help Jerry it’ll be like a real life series of Rick and Morty
Shawna Chapman Ragland
Join our FB page “Say no to center point traffic cameras”. They just love my page! Always trying to join it.
Shawna Chapman Ragland
Were you aware the the 4 police officers that Center Point contracts out are not there to write tickets and prevent crime, but to serve citations for things like grass to high and too many cars in your yard? True story!
David Nichols
If Center Point can’t afford to hire cops to patrol and protect the public then Center Point as a city should dissolve back into unincorporated Jefferson County…
Alex Payne
Won’t be going to center point anymore. Not that i did anyway Hunter Henry gas in on the right
Scott Key
Broke again Center Point sharing proceeds with a 3 rd party vendor. Nothing like a city full of traffic cameras to bring in customers to your remaining businesses
Ed Hollis
Will not buy anything in centerpoint