News (Media Awareness Project) - CN AB: Red-Light Camera To Be Added In City |
| Title: | CN AB: Red-Light Camera To Be Added In City |
| Published On: | 2004-05-19 |
| Source: | Red Deer Advocate (CN AB) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-18 09:44:04 |
RED-LIGHT CAMERA TO BE ADDED IN CITY
A second red-light camera will be watching for dangerous drivers at
Red Deer intersections by the end of summer.
Currently, the city has one camera that is rotated between four
intersections.
Red Deer city council approved the purchase of a second camera and
will wire another four intersections for camera operation at a cost of
$358,000.
About 18,000 photo radar and red-light tickets were handed out in 2000
and a total of 266,000 vehicles were monitored.
In 2003, 15,575 tickets were given out and 558,000 vehicles were
monitored.
"It indicates to me the intersections we're targeting are getting
safer," said RCMP Supt. Jim Steele. The number of traffic tickets is
declining despite the increase in traffic on Red Deer streets, he said.
Policing committee chair Phil Hyde supports the use of cameras, and
he'd welcome more because there will still be 32 problem intersections
in Red Deer unmonitored.
"If it was up to me, I'd have red-light cameras at every intersection
of the city," Hyde said.
It gives police the opportunity to focus on other crime, he
added.
Crime statistics released at Tuesday's policing committee meeting for
the first four months of 2004 included the following:
l Robbery is up from this time last year, from 25 to 30
offences.
l Total assaults are up from 363 to 415.
l Sexual assaults dropped from 55 to 30.
l Residential break and enters fell from 203 to 167.
l Vehicle thefts are up from 241 to 266.
l Drug offences are up from 149 to 296.
RCMP Insp. Peter Calvert said officers are focusing on drug raids
where they have found large quantities of drugs, which has resulted in
more charges.
"We've pretty much doubled our efforts in that area. It's a positive
statistic," Calvert said.
It isn't easy to zero in on the drug dealer selling on the street, he
said.
"It's so fleeting when it happens. It's very difficult to monitor, to
get enough physical detail to affect an arrest."
But the new focus on drug and drug-related crime should also help
reduce problems on the street, he added.
"We're hoping with the enhanced program, the police presence alone
will deter people."
A second red-light camera will be watching for dangerous drivers at
Red Deer intersections by the end of summer.
Currently, the city has one camera that is rotated between four
intersections.
Red Deer city council approved the purchase of a second camera and
will wire another four intersections for camera operation at a cost of
$358,000.
About 18,000 photo radar and red-light tickets were handed out in 2000
and a total of 266,000 vehicles were monitored.
In 2003, 15,575 tickets were given out and 558,000 vehicles were
monitored.
"It indicates to me the intersections we're targeting are getting
safer," said RCMP Supt. Jim Steele. The number of traffic tickets is
declining despite the increase in traffic on Red Deer streets, he said.
Policing committee chair Phil Hyde supports the use of cameras, and
he'd welcome more because there will still be 32 problem intersections
in Red Deer unmonitored.
"If it was up to me, I'd have red-light cameras at every intersection
of the city," Hyde said.
It gives police the opportunity to focus on other crime, he
added.
Crime statistics released at Tuesday's policing committee meeting for
the first four months of 2004 included the following:
l Robbery is up from this time last year, from 25 to 30
offences.
l Total assaults are up from 363 to 415.
l Sexual assaults dropped from 55 to 30.
l Residential break and enters fell from 203 to 167.
l Vehicle thefts are up from 241 to 266.
l Drug offences are up from 149 to 296.
RCMP Insp. Peter Calvert said officers are focusing on drug raids
where they have found large quantities of drugs, which has resulted in
more charges.
"We've pretty much doubled our efforts in that area. It's a positive
statistic," Calvert said.
It isn't easy to zero in on the drug dealer selling on the street, he
said.
"It's so fleeting when it happens. It's very difficult to monitor, to
get enough physical detail to affect an arrest."
But the new focus on drug and drug-related crime should also help
reduce problems on the street, he added.
"We're hoping with the enhanced program, the police presence alone
will deter people."
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
