Senator says van One of the most vocal critics of the state's Photo Traffic Enforcement cameras said the vendor continues to issue citations for vehicles going less than 10 mph over the speed limits, pointing to the profit motive of the program.
cams should get in
step with court
Hogue decries tickets issued for
speeds just over the posted limitBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com"I think it's unconscionable that they continue to write tickets for cars over the threshold that the Judiciary has established," Hogue said.
State judges began dismissing photo citations last month for vehicles traveling less than 10 mph over the limit. Transportation Director Brian Minaai said there would be no change in the way the program was being run. And camera van operator Affiliated Computer Services continued to issue citations for vehicles traveling as little as 6 mph over the posted speed limit.
There were 3,686 photo citations issued last month. Of those, 2,518, or 68 percent, were for vehicles traveling less than 10 mph over the speed limit.
"I think it's obvious to anybody watching that it's a cash grab. They're just hopeful that people will pay despite what the Judiciary has put into place," said Hogue (R, Kaneohe-Enchanted Lake).
According to its contract, ACS gets $29.75 of every ticket paid. In addition, the state has agreed to pay ACS for citations not issued because it was not able to match the registered owners with their driver's license numbers. The state was expected to pay ACS $46,767 for citations it could not issue.
Hogue received his own photo citation in January. He sent the court a written statement rather than appear before a judge because his scheduled hearing date this week was on the same day as a critical legislative deadline in which Hogue joined the majority of the Senate in voting to repeal the traffic camera program. He has yet to receive word on the disposition of his case.
Hogue said someone else was driving his car when it was photographed Jan. 22 traveling 61 mph in a 45 mph zone on Likelike Highway.
He said the person who was driving will either pay the fine or make a contribution to a traffic safety program in an amount equal to what the fine would have been in case the citation is dismissed.
"I'm a strong advocate of traffic safety and driver responsibility," he said, "but the program is the wrong way to go about it."
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