Unverified The state Department of Transportation is expected to pay Affiliated Computer Systems $46,767 for citations it was unable to issue to the registered owners of speeding vehicles in January.
traffic cam citations
cost state $46,000
Problems arose in cross-checking
Denver suspends traffic cams
1 list with anotherBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comACS told transportation officials about having difficulty in matching names of registered owners of vehicles with those on the driver's license list, said Brian Minaai, the department's director.
A total of 1,572 citations were not mailed out to registered owners because of the problem of matching names from the two lists. A match is needed to ensure citations are sent to the correct person, he said.
For example, transportation officials said, initials are making it difficult to make exact matches.
"We're learning as we go. It was something that was unforeseen," Minaai said.
Though the citations were not issued to the registered owner, the state agency is still required to cover costs for those citations processed by ACS, Minaai said.
The Transportation Department is expected to pay the camera vendor through money from the highway special fund. ACS receives $29.75 for each paid citation.
The House Finance Committee approved a bill Tuesday based on proposed changes to the traffic camera program. Lawmakers who supported House Bill 2167 agreed the program curtailed speeders.
Changes to the bill include paying the contractor a flat fee rather than a portion of each paid citation and prohibiting increases in insurance premiums for motorists who receive a speeding citation issued by a traffic camera operator.
Three lawmakers opposed the measure.
State Rep. Charles Djou said, "The state's government does not know how to properly implement this program. ... It's one problem after another after another."
Funds spent on the traffic camera program should be going toward roadway improvements, said Djou (R, Kaneohe). "It should be terminated," he added.
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DENVER >> The city temporarily suspended its photo radar program yesterday and dismissed all pending tickets issued under the system. Denver suspends traffic-cam
system, dismisses ticketsA district judge ruled the system
By Jennifer Hamilton
gave away police powers but
the city plans to resume it
Associated Press"We have decided that the appropriate thing to do is to void these tickets," city attorney Jim Thomas said.
"We want to review the program to make sure that we have an appropriate program in operation."
A district court judge ruled Jan. 28 that the photo-radar program illegally gave police powers to a private contractor, who prepared and sent the summonses.
The program also violated state law by appearing to compensate the contractor based on the volume of tickets issued, Judge Mary Celeste said in her ruling.
The contractor in Denver is the same company that runs the traffic enforcement cameras in Hawaii.
Celeste threw out four photo-radar tickets that had been issued to lawyers Gary Pirosko and Stuart Barr and to Adell Shafiee, one of Barr's clients.
Thomas said the city would continue to seek an appeal to the ruling.
The city also is defending itself against a class-action lawsuit filed Feb. 5 by Dean Blanken of Lakewood and Thomas Godwin of Denver seeking refunds of all fines paid under the program.
Officials said no refunds would be given to drivers who have admitted liability or been determined liable in court and paid their tickets.
He said the city would restart the multimillion dollar program as soon as possible because it provides "significant public safety benefits."
City officials have said that when the program is reinstated, the photo radar vans will be stationed only in school zones and on neighborhood streets. Some critics have said the vans were being placed on thoroughfares to increase revenue.
Thomas said he did not know the number of tickets that were dismissed.