Cameras cool off; Transportation officials, and some motorists, say the state's new program that uses cameras to catch and ticket speeders is having its desired effect: Drivers are slowing down.
drivers wise up
The number of drivers cited drops
32 percent from day 1 to day 2New traffic cameras raise sales of license plate covers
By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comOn Thursday the cameras caught 630 speeding vehicles, a 32 percent drop from the 927 speeders cited on Wednesday, the first day of the ticketing program.
"The more publicity it gets, the more people slow down. We have no other explanation for it," said Marilyn Kali, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman.
Of the 24,310 clocked the first two days, 1,557 were found speeding, a ratio of one out of every 15.6 cars, Kali said.
Laser cameras in four vans monitor traffic at 15 designated locations along Oahu highways. They can remain in one location no longer than four hours.
Many motorists have taken notice.
Gail Hayashi has seen the vans parked along Moanalua Freeway.
"It makes me more aware. Every time I see a van now, I slow down," Hayashi said.
Joanne Cook said the vans are not causing her to slow down, the other drivers are.
"I noticed this morning driving into work that people were driving so slow. 'What's the deal, why is everybody driving so slow?' I was like, 'Oh yeah, I forgot about the cameras.' I slowed down a little bit, I have to admit."
Cook said she drives about 60 miles an hour on the freeway.
Not everybody is driving slower.
"I don't," said Mike Pavich.
"I'm sure he doesn't," Tammy Pavich, Mike's wife confirmed.
But the Paviches said they have been staying near their home in Manoa and have not been traveling on roadways monitored by the cameras.
The first citations are in the mail today to the registered owners of the vehicles photographed by cameras Wednesday.
They will have a Jan. 21 court date if they want to challenge the citation. Cited vehicle owners need to pay the fine before then to avoid a court hearing.
If the person receiving the citation was not the driver, he can submit the name, address, driver's license number and signature of the person who was driving his vehicle. A new citation would then be issued to the driver.
The fine is $27 plus $5 for every mile an hour over the speed limit. At that rate the 1,557 tickets issued on the first two days represent a minimum of $50,000 in fines.
The traffic cameras could be implemented on other islands as early as the summer, Kali said.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers have expressed concerns with aspects of the program.
Rep. Charles Djou (R, Kahaluu-Kaneohe) said he wants camera tickets not to go on driving records because, like parking violations, the driver is not identified.
Transportation Director Brian Minaai is asking lawmakers to consider that option.
"How much of a consequence or penalty should it be, to be a deterrent?" he said. "Maybe if it were just like a parking ticket, it would be sufficient."
Djou also feels the vendor that operates the system should be paid a flat monthly fee instead of a portion of the fines, so there will not be an incentive to cite motorists.
Camera operators Affiliated Computer Services USA will take $29.75 out of each camera citation issued, officials said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.