Council OKs red-light camera system

A divided City Council voted 8-6 today to give the OK to American Traffic Solutions for the installation of red-light cameras across the city. The move ends months of discussion about whether the city should have the cameras and who should install them — or maybe "ends" isn't the right word, as we're sure this won't really be the end of anything.

Though Mayor Bill White and HPD have said the cameras — which photograph the cars of people running red lights and let the city mail them tickets — will make intersections safer, critics say the real objective in installing the system is to bring the city more money. They've also said the cameras could cause traffic accidents if drivers slam on their brakes to avoid running red lights. Given how people drive in this city, though, that probably won't be an issue.

The real question in Housonist's mind is still about why the city chose a camera system without a safety feature that would stop cross traffic if it sensed someone was about to run a red light. Granted, we don't know all the ins and outs of red-light cameras, but it sounds like that would have been a pretty good idea.

HPD is expected to announce the locations of the first 10 cameras in the next few days.