I’m So Busted

I ran the traffic signal at Wheaton and Sylvan Ways in Bremerton the evening of August 31—more than a week ago. Yesterday the “Notice of Traffic Infraction” arrived in the mail, complete with inculpatory photos and instructions on how to pay (or fight) the $124 fine. In this day of instant communication like email and 24/7 cable news, it now takes longer to actually get a red-light ticket than when the officer used to hand it to you on the spot. The rest of the process is impressive in its moneymaking efficiency, although the amount of the fine and who shares in the cash raise some questions.

When red-light cameras came to Bremerton in 2007, the chief gripe seemed to be that the underlying purpose was to make money for the city instead of improving safety. Statistics show the cameras are doing both. In comparing the first quarters of 2009 and 2008, there were 22 percent fewer accidents this year at the intersections with cameras. As for revenue, the cameras bring in about $70,000 per month in fines. About half of that goes to the red-light contractor, Redflex Traffic Systems. Since the city’s other associated costs are only about $7500 per month, the program clearly helps fill Bremerton’s coffers.

It’s tough to counter the main point made by camera proponents, who argue that all you need to do is drive safely and not run any red lights. Indeed I’m more careful at the camera-monitored intersections. But it only takes one slip. The night in question I was driving the speed limit as I approached the intersection. I saw the light turn red and for whatever reason decided not to stop. When I saw the camera’s bright flash in my rear view mirror, I felt incredibly dumb and incredibly busted. Thoughtfully, the city included a photo with the ticket showing my truck just before I entered the intersection. The light is clearly red. There’s even a close-up of my personalized MUDDBAY license plate. The ironic thing is that R.B. and I had otherwise been good citizens that night. We were on our way to dinner after attending Norm Dicks’s town-hall meeting on health care.

In Washington $124 is the standard fine for many traffic infractions (for example, an illegal U-turn or following too closely). Of that, about $89 is split almost evenly between the city or county and the State Public Safety and Education Account. The rest goes to the judicial information system, crime victims, auto theft prevention, emergency medical services for the uninsured, and traumatic brain injury. There’s no word on whether the last two programs can be dropped once Obamacare is law. (Why the State Public Safety and Education Account needs to rake in more than $44 for each of the thousands of tickets written daily in Washington is beyond the scope of the Mud Bay Blog.) Recall the $70,000 in monthly fines mentioned earlier. The number is all the more impressive when you consider it’s based on $44.43 per violation (the city’s share) and not the $124 face value of the ticket.

Incredibly the state legislature left a lawsuit waiting to happen in the RCW statute that approved automated traffic safety cameras:

“Additionally, infractions generated by the use of automated traffic safety cameras under this section shall be processed in the same manner as parking infractions. However, the amount of the fine issued for an infraction generated through the use of an automated traffic safety camera shall not exceed the amount of a fine issued for other parking infractions within the jurisdiction.”

Processing the violations like parking tickets is appropriate. No points are assessed on your driving record for good reasons. An officer didn’t see you commit the infraction, and you might not have been the one driving the car. The problem came when municipalities with the cameras started levying a fine of $124, well above their charge for parking tickets (except for parking in a handicapped spot). A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the red-light fines. It seeks refunds for drivers who have been fined and requires that the fines be reduced for future infractions. I think the $124 fine is appropriate given the offense, and I plan to pay it on time. However, I’m also going to hang on to my citation in case the lawsuit goes anywhere.