Traffic cameras are city money makers

There continues to be a belief that the recently installed traffic cameras are all about safety. With regard to the cameras deployed to prevent drivers from running red lights and for those in front of Einstein Elementary, that statement is true. With regard to over 90 percent of the violations recorded each month for vehicles failing to stop for a sufficient length of time before executing a right turn, the issue is strictly about revenue.

There continues to be a belief that the recently installed traffic cameras are all about safety.

With regard to the cameras deployed to prevent drivers from running red lights and for those in front of Einstein Elementary, that statement is true.

With regard to over 90 percent of the violations recorded each month for vehicles failing to stop for a sufficient length of time before executing a right turn, the issue is strictly about revenue.

It’s revenue for both the City of Redmond and American Traffic Solutions, (ATS), the company who contracted with Redmond to install the cameras.

Based on where the money comes from, it’s questionable if ATS would have ever agreed to install the cameras if their purpose was simply to help prevent the running of red lights and speeding in school zones.

If you’re still convinced this program should remain as is, you have to ask yourself why the Los Angeles Police Commission recently voted unanimously  to drop that city’s red light camera program?

Traffic cameras in Redmond should be about safety not about generating revenue under questionable circumstances.

Tom Nelson, Woodinville