Legality of speed cameras in debate
Lawrence Scott
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Features
These controversial cameras were installed in Davenport as early as August 2004 for red lights. The automated speed enforcement cameras were installed in January 2006.
According to the Quad-City Times, $470,000 of the revenue generated from the cameras has been set aside to help fund the hire of a new police officer, create a juvenile crime unit, fund the Volunteers in Police Service program and increase neighborhood enforcement.
In December of 2006, Gary Statz, a traffic engineer, was asked to conduct a study on the cameras to weigh their overall effectiveness. He looked at three-year trends before and after the program and concluded that the yearly rate of red light collisions at the four intersections outfitted with the cameras had decreased by 68 percent.
"Safety is the reason that we started the program, the city council members asked Chief (Mike) Bladel to look into it, we researched the effectiveness and it showed that collisions and injuries could be reduced," said Venema.
"If it were all about safety, would they care about where the money went? If the public wants safer streets, we vote to raise taxes to hire more police officers, that's how the system works," said Davidson.
The controversial dispute between the people, the state, and the city of Davenport may carry on for some time before a final decision is made for the life expectancy of the cameras.
According to the police department, the cameras are currently off and will remain so until further notice.
According to the Quad-City Times, $470,000 of the revenue generated from the cameras has been set aside to help fund the hire of a new police officer, create a juvenile crime unit, fund the Volunteers in Police Service program and increase neighborhood enforcement.
In December of 2006, Gary Statz, a traffic engineer, was asked to conduct a study on the cameras to weigh their overall effectiveness. He looked at three-year trends before and after the program and concluded that the yearly rate of red light collisions at the four intersections outfitted with the cameras had decreased by 68 percent.
"Safety is the reason that we started the program, the city council members asked Chief (Mike) Bladel to look into it, we researched the effectiveness and it showed that collisions and injuries could be reduced," said Venema.
"If it were all about safety, would they care about where the money went? If the public wants safer streets, we vote to raise taxes to hire more police officers, that's how the system works," said Davidson.
The controversial dispute between the people, the state, and the city of Davenport may carry on for some time before a final decision is made for the life expectancy of the cameras.
According to the police department, the cameras are currently off and will remain so until further notice.
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