Camera van gets
speeding ticket

The state says it will contest the
ticket issued on Thursday

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By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

The state Department of Transportation is investigating why Honolulu police issued a speeding ticket to the driver of one of the state's camera enforcement vans.

Honolulu police issued the ticket at 9:30 p.m. Thursday near the Puuloa onramp on Moanalua Freeway after the van was allegedly clocked for going 47 mph in a 35 mph zone.

"There was a ticket that was issued," confirmed Transportation Department spokeswoman Marilyn Kali, who was also speaking on behalf of the company who runs the camera vans for the state, Affiliated Computer Services.

"The ACS does not believe the driver of the van was speeding and are contesting the ticket. We are also launching an investigation as to whether this ticket was issued in error," she said.

A Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman said she was aware of the department's call for an investigation but said she did not know what part, if any, the department would play.

The citation comes a week after the state began issuing its own citations using the photo enforcement program on Oahu roads and intersections.

Before and after the program started, several Honolulu police officers, speaking anonymously, complained that the program is unfair and tickets are being issued using unproved technology and without discretion.

When asked if she believed the citation to the van driver was issued out of malice, Kali replied: "We are launching an investigation. That is all I am going to say."