Phoenix City Council extends contract for school-zone speed vans

PHOENIX – Red light cameras may be on their way out of use in Phoenix, but photo enforcement vans near schools will stay up and running, city leaders have decided.

City Council members voted, 8-1, Wednesday, to keep the program, based on a recommendation from the Public Safety and Justice subcommittee.

The contract for the red light cameras awarded to Redflex Traffic Systems comes to an end Dec. 31.

The agreement for the vans was extended for four months.

Mayor Kate Gallego and Councilmembers Thelda Williams, Laura Pastor and Debra Stark said in a joint statement they are disappointed the council was not able come to an agreement to continue with the red light cameras when on Nov. 20 it voted 5-4 against extending the contract.

“We believe it’s important to keep some form of speed control in place ahead of the roll-out of the next red light camera contract,” the statement read.

“That is why we voted in favor of keeping the speed detection vehicles in operation through the next contract.”

The 12 fixed light sites and the eight mobile speed vehicles went online in fall of 2014.

At one point, another subcommittee had recommended doubling the number of both fixed lights and speed vans.

The vans, according to the city’s website, monitor vehicle speeds as they near and then pass the van. If the driver is going over the 15 mph school zone speed limit, that triggers radar to take pictures.

Police look over the material before issuing a complaint to the driver that includes photos of the vehicle, license plate and driver.

The site also said: “Red Light and Photo Speed cameras have been proven to be effective in reducing red light violations and right-angle collisions. Cities using these systems consistently report safer roads with fewer collisions.”

Phoenix Fire Capt. P.J. Dean, also spokesman for the United Phoenix Firefighters Association, told Gallego and council members that Arizona ranked highest in the country for fatal red-light running accidents.

“We implore the mayor and council to take action to help continue to manage the issue and not exacerbate it,” he said.

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