Arnold Considers Renewal of Red-Light Camera Contract

The Arnold City Council should take a close look at the use of red-light traffic cameras in the city, Ward I City Councilman Doris Borgelt says.

The council is expected to vote on renewing the city’s contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS), the company that installs and maintains red-light cameras in the city, at 7 p.m. May 19.

A critic of the red-light cameras, Borgelt believes the cameras have been aimed more at generating revenue than at increasing public safety.

Red-light camera systems netted about $1.3 million for the City of Arnold between the years of 2006 to 2010, according to city records.

Borgelt cites a recent decrease in violations since the timing on yellow lights at the intersections was extended in March.

“Since the amber lights have been adjusted, the violation rate has gone down to less than half of what it was,” Borgelt said.

According to figures compiled by the Arnold Police Department and provided by Borgelt, 691 citations were issued in January and 617 were issued in February. The number of citations issued dropped to 263 in March and 250 in April, she said.

Borgelt would like to see further adjustments to eliminate tickets issued between the time a traffic light turns red and other lights at the intersection turn green.

In addition, she says the city could consider installing signs and flashing lights approaching the intersections to alert drivers that the light is about to change.

“If it’s about safety, we need to make it about safety,” Borgelt said.

Arnold Mayor Ron Counts says the majority of the council favors use of the red-light cameras with some adjustments.

“We have different issues about putting different signage up in different areas and the cost itself,” Counts said.  “But the council as a whole is definitely in favor of it.”

Revenue and safety

Arnold’s red-light cameras have generated about $2.3 million in the five years they’ve been in place, City Administrator Matt Unrein said. According to city records, about $766,000 went to ATS, the Arizona-based company that installs and manages the systems.  Another $232,000 went to the State of Missouri.

About 34,000 tickets have been issued in the cameras’ five years of use, Unrein said. About 72 percent of the tickets have been paid. 

There are presently four intersections in Arnold equipped with the systems. They are located at

• Jeffco Boulevard and the Rockport school entrance
• Vogel Road and Richardson Road
• Jeffco Boulevard and Highway 141
• Highway 141 and Astra Way

Police Chief Shockey told council members in March that the number of wrecks at the four intersections with camera systems fell 19 percent between 2005 and 2010.

How Red-Light Cameras Work

Arnold’s red-light camera systems use a motion sensor, a video camera, a still-picture camera and a strobe light, Norton said.  The system is only active when the traffic light is red. No images are taken when the light is green or yellow.

The sensor detects movement at the stop line, bordering the intersection, when the traffic signal is red. Then cameras take photos and video of the car at the stop line, entering the intersection during the red light, and proceeding through the intersection.

The Arnold Police Department decides whether or not to issue tickets based on the photos and a 12-second video recording.