Shockey Says MoDOT Red-Light Camera Wreck Numbers are Wrong

Arnold Police Chief Robert Shockey said, during Tuesday night’s red-light camera system forum in city hall, that the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) analysis on car wrecks in Arnold was wrong.

“I expect he will receive a few calls tomorrow,” Shockey said about the analysis done by John Miller at MoDOT. 

Shockey said he talked with Miller about the difference between the Arnold police wreck reports and MoDOT’s numbers. The two men spoke for about four hours during a three-week period.

There are four camera systems operating in Arnold.

MoDOT recorded more wrecks at intersections because it considered wrecks within 133 feet of the intersection. Arnold only considered wrecks within 50 feet.

MoDOT also included wrecks that occurred at retailers or gas stations near the intersection, Shockey said. Those wrecks occurred near the retailers' parking lot entrances, near the road.

Shockey was most surprised about MoDOT’s data, showing a 370-percent increase at the intersection of Richardson Road and Vogel Road. 

“Those numbers are wrong,” Shockey said.

MoDOT’s analysis of the Richardson/Vogel data was difficult, Shockey said. The intersection has exit and on-ramps for Interstate-55. MoDoT calculations for the intersection also included wrecks on West Outer Road, which is directly south, but not connected to the intersection.

After considering the other factors, MoDOT agreed with figures from the Arnold Police Department, Shockey said.

No Fatal Wrecks Since 2002

Police Chief Shockey said the number of wrecks at the four intersections with camera systems fell 19 percent between 2005 and 2010.

“We have had zero fatalities since 2002, which is the point of the camera systems,” Shockey said.  Three fatal wrecks occurred in Arnold in 2002.

Shockey said the total number of wrecks is not adjusted for the increased traffic at Astra Way and Route 141 or at Jeffco Boulevard and Route 141. Both intersections have camera systems.

The Arnold Recreation Center opened in 2005 and is near the intersection of Astraway and 141. Arnold Commons, a retail strip mall, opened a few years ago and is near the Jeffco and Route 141 intersection.

Between 2005 and 2010, the number of wrecks at Astra Way and Route 141 increased 23 percent, while wrecks at Jeffco Boulevard and Route 141 rose 44 percent.

Wrecks at Rockport Elementary School's entrance and Rte. 61-67, the fourth intersection with a camera system, fell 76 percent, according to data provided by Shockey.

“This meeting should have occurred about six years ago,” said Jason Norton, a spokesman for American Traffic Systems. ATS is the Arizona-based company that installs and services the red-light camera systems at four Arnold intersections.

Police, not ATS, decide to issue tickets

The Arnold Police Department decides to issue a ticket based on photographs and video recordings, Norton said. ATS does not issue the tickets.

ATS takes the images, matches license plates with DMV registrations, and sends the information to the Arnold police department, Norton said.

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. 

If the sensors detect motion at the stop lines, bordering the intersection, the cameras photograph and video record the cars at the red light, moving into the intersection and proceeding through the intersection.

Officers use the images and video to determine whether drivers entered the intersection due to icy road conditions or to avoid a rear end collision at the traffic light, Norton said. “The officers use their discretion as if they were at the intersection.”

Four Arnold police officers were at City Hall during Tuesday night’s public forum to explain the city’s red-light camera systems and their effect on public safety. 

About 100 cars filled the parking lot, Jefferson County Council members and about 150 people occupied the seats in the Arnold City Council chambers, and four video cameras recorded the meeting.