Tag Archives: red light cameras

Dallas-area cities are watching the red light camera referenda

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

What happens next month in Houston and Baytown may have an effect on our neighbors to the north. North Texas city officials are monitoring a public backlash against lucrative red-light cameras that could signal their end. Citizens in three Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Some Prop 3 action

Posted on October 9, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Campos observed last week that there hasn’t been any action on Prop 3, which is the red light camera referendum. That’s about to change. The Houston Professional Firefighters Association, a group that represents more than 4,000 firefighters, said it supports … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

KHOU polls Mayor Parker’s job performance

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

She did pretty well. A majority of voters in Bayou City approve of Mayor Annise Parker’s job performance, according to an exclusive 11 News/KUHF-Houston Public Radio poll released Tuesday. Rice University’s Center for Civic Engagement conducted the poll, which surveyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Video-enabled radar guns

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just curious what people think of this: Plano could soon become one of the nation’s first cities to equip police with laser speed guns that also capture video. Police say the handheld equipment would provide courts with indisputable evidence … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Chron story on lawsuit against red light camera referendum

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron covers the story. Boosters of Houston’s 70 red-light cameras are seeking to prevent a November vote on whether to ban the devices, alleging in a federal lawsuit that the initiative was placed on the ballot illegally and that … Continue reading →

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Chron opines for red light cameras

Posted on September 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise here, and nothing new in the way of arguments. I’m sure there are plenty of people who haven’t formulated an opinion about red light cameras whose vote is up for grabs, but I don’t see a whole lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Lawsuit filed to stop red light camera referendum

Posted on September 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

And now the fun really begins. A federal lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in an effort to prevent Houston residents from voting on whether to ban red-light cameras. Multiple sources told KPRC Local 2 that the lawsuit was filed on … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

More on the red light camera Council vote

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The fuller version of the Chron story addresses the question about whether the petition drive was lawful or not according to the city’s charter. “It is your absolute sworn duty to place this on the ballot,” [Mayor Annise] Parker told … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Red light camera petitions certified

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

They made it just under the wire. A petition to ban red light cameras in Houston has been certified by the city secretary, making it all but certain that voters will decide in November whether the 70 devices at intersections … Continue reading →

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The revised red light camera study

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week, when I wrote about the anti-red light camera folks turning in their petition signatures, I noted that the Chron story referenced an update to the January 2009 study about the effect of cameras on the collision rate at … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Red light camera opponents turn in their petitions

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I was beginning to wonder if the anti-red light camera crowd was ever going to turn in their petition signatures, as it’s starting too get a little late in the game. They made their move on Monday, submitting 30,000 petition … Continue reading →

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HPD sends “Pay your red light camera ticket or else” letter

Posted on July 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

With predictable results. Houston police have notified 79,000 motorists that they cannot renew their vehicle registrations until they pay red light camera fines and penalties, even though Harris County officials repeatedly have said they will not prevent people from registering … Continue reading →

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On we go with the red light camera debate

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The DMN has a story about the ongoing red light camera debate around the state. There’s a lot of familiar stuff in there, but this bit caught my eye: While camera critics dispute the safety data, the money generated has … Continue reading →

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Harper-Brown’s hand in the cookie jar

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown (R-Irving) and her husband are driving cars owned by a highway contractor doing millions of dollars of business with the state. All the while, Harper-Brown sits on the influential House Transportation Committee. Her husband claims … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2010 | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Man the barricades!

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Wayne Slater, on the just-ended state Republican convention in Dallas: For a party in power, there seem to be a lot of martyrs in the Texas GOP. Rush Limbaugh says Democrats are the party of victims. But it was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The anti-red light camera referendum drive begins

Posted on April 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the anti-red light camera forces intend to collect enough petition signatures to put a charter referendum on the ballot this November. On Friday, they got started. Because red-light camera citations remain outside the realm of tickets that … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

More on the red light camera poll

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Last week I wrote about a poll commissioned by a group called the Keep Houston Safe PAC about attitudes towards red light cameras. The result was quite favorable for the cameras, but at the time I didn’t have full information … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 24 Comments

Poll shows strong support for red light cameras

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The following hit my inbox early Friday morning: A citywide survey of 500 likely voters in Houston’s 2010 general election conducted by a nationally respected polling firm last month finds strong support for the City of Houston’s intersection safety camera … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Once again with the Driver Responsibility Program

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Trib takes a look at Texas’ Driver Responsibility Program and the grassroots effort to repeal it. The stories scroll by one after another on an online petition to repeal a law called the Driver Responsibility Act. Nearly 4,000 angry … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Red light camera referendum may be coming

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve been expecting this to happen for awhile now. Two lawyers who are suing the city over Houston’s red-light camera program and their supporters said Friday they need 20,000 signatures for a citywide referendum to end what they called a … Continue reading →

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Those uncollected surcharges

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s an update on the Texas Driver Responsibility Program, which was created in 2003 as a way to raise revenue by adding hefty extra fees to certain moving violations. “It’s a complete failure,” said state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, … Continue reading →

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Red light camera amnesty

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Got a red light camera ticket that you haven’t paid? Want to get it taken care of but fear there may be consequences for having waited so long? Well, now’s your chance to do it, as HPD has announced a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

City not paying toll road fines

Posted on October 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. The city has avoided paying county toll road fines using a defense it does not want motorists to use when contesting red-light camera violations. […] A city finance official claimed the toll fines are owed by the individual employees … Continue reading →

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County puts off vote on helping the city deny vehicle registration to red light camera scofflaws

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. For the second time in a month, Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday postponed a vote on an agreement with the city to block vehicle registrations for red-light camera violators who do not pay their fines. Court members … Continue reading →

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Stop for the school buses

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

My route to and from work takes me through a couple of school zones, and every now and then I wind up behind a school bus and have to stop when it pulls over to discharge some riders. I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, School days | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

City to release documents related to red light camera study

Posted on October 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

They’re being ordered to do so by a judge, but it doesn’t look like they’re particularly bothered by it. Paul Kubosh and Randall Kallinen filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s refusal to release 208 documents they requested under the Texas … Continue reading →

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County doesn’t want to help city collect red light camera fines

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Last year, City Council passed an ordinance that would put a hold on vehicle registrations for which there are outstanding red light camera fines. The city’s ability to do this is contingent on cooperation from the county, as it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

League City begins red light camera operations

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Back in April, League City council approved the use of red light cameras at up to five intersections there. On Wednesday, those cameras went into operation. League City installed three red-light cameras at the following three intersections. West FM 518 … Continue reading →

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Warrants

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Lots of people out there have outstanding warrants. Nearly 2 million warrants worth more than $340 million are outstanding in the Houston area, and in most cases they’re not for hard-core criminals. They’re for average residents who haven’t settled minor … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Red light cameras? There’s an app for that

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Of course you can use your iPhone to avoid red light cameras and speed traps. Dwight tells us about it. Most Houston drivers know that the city has set up cameras at certain intersections to snap photos of those who run … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Baytown gets the red light camera blues

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. A Texas motorist caught the city of Baytown using short yellows to trap motorists at a photo enforced intersection and of failing to protect sensitive private information. At a press conference yesterday, Byron Schirmbeck and his attorney, Randall Kallinen, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Fort Worth’s red light camera experience

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

They like them so far. The city Transportation Department pronounces itself pleased with progress made by red-light cameras. The number of accidents has decreased at the targeted intersections. The cameras have resulted in about $1.2 million in fines — $765,000 … Continue reading →

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Red light camera ban appears dead

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

So says the Star-Telegram, which has been the go-to source for these stories. A final version of legislation restructuring the Texas Department of Transportation is not expected to include a ban on red-light cameras or a local option provision allowing … Continue reading →

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Budget heads to the Governor

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In the end, thanks in large part to the stimulus package and its infusion of funds that prevented the need to dip into the Rainy Day Fund, the budget process was relatively uncontroversial. Yesterday, it was passed by the House, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments