Texas
shelves testing cameras to catch speeders
Sept. 1,
2007
The Associated Press
AUSTIN — Texas transportation officials
are postponing plans to use cameras to
catch speeding drivers.
Transportation
Commission Chairman Ric Williamson sent
lawmakers a letter Friday saying testing
of the $2.5 million pilot program was
being canceled until at least June 2009.
The project would have tested using
cameras to monitor traffic on Texas 6
near College Station and Interstate 10
in Hudspeth County east of El Paso.
Speeding drivers would have received
warnings but not tickets.
The state plans came months after the
Legislature barred local governments
from using automated cameras to issue
speeding tickets through the mail.
"How hypocritical is it that the
state would force the municipalities to
cease and desist use of these devices,
and then turn around and employ the
technology for the same purposes
itself," read a letter by state Rep.
Vicki Truitt, who represents northeast
Tarrant County.
More than 2,000 cameras are used
throughout Texas' highway system.
They're used to enforce tolls, catch
red-light runners and allow citizens to
monitor traffic conditions from the Web.
Williamson said he still likes the
idea of using cameras and hopes to
discuss it in the future with lawmakers.