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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Hallandale Beach civic activist Csaba Kulin asks some reasonable questions re red-light camera laws as applied in HB, Broward County & Florida

Below is an email about Traffic Infraction Detectors, what we all call red-light cameras, that my friend and fellow Hallandale Beach and Broward civic activist Csaba Kulin penned earlier today to Broward County Commissioners Sue Gunzburger of District 6 and Barbara Sharief of District 8.

As you know from my many previous posts here on the subject of legislative redistricting, despite its relatively small size in the southeast corner of Broward County, just north of Miami-Dade County and the City of Aventura, just as is the case for congressional representation in Washington, D.C. -Frederica Wilson and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz- this city is also -foolishly- divided for representation before the Broward County Commission up on Andrews Avenue, in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

http://www.broward.org/commission/Pages/default.aspx

District 6 map, Gunzburger:
http://gis.broward.org/maps/webPDFs/CommissionDistricts/comdist6.pdf

District 8 map, Sharief:
http://gis.broward.org/maps/webPDFs/CommissionDistricts/comdist8.pdf

The comments should be of interest to you regardless of whether or not you live in Hallandale Beach or Broward County, since in their own way, they get to the heart of the issue as these laws have been enacted and complied with here.

My next blog post, later today, will also be about red-light camera laws, their application, and next Tuesday's big vote before the Broward County Commission on whether those laws ought to be repealed.

To wit, is there any actual rhyme or reason for cities using red-light cameras and where they can be physically located regardless of facts, or a means of checking government over-reach and abuse?


Once they've had some time to respond, I'll of course post the commissioners responses to Csaba's comments here on the blog.

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Honorable Mayor Gunzburger,

During a recent private conversation with HB Commissioner Anthony Sanders and during the February 2, 2011 HB City Commission Meeting the topic of the more and more unpopular "red light" cameras came up. They were sold to the HB City Commission and the residents as a "safety" measure, we always knew it was a "money grabbing" device.

About one and a half years ago the first "red light" camera was installed on the SE corner of US 1 and Hallandale Beach Blvd. During this time about 2 million dollars of fines were levied primary affecting the residents east of US 1 turning right on red.
Recently another "red light" camera was installed on Hallandale Beach Blvd. and NW 10 Terrace, in front of IHOP, pointing westward. This camera by it's location will target residents of NW neighborhood turning right on red. Some of the residents of that area are already economically challenged and a $158.00 ticket would be significant hardship for them to face. That area technically is in Commissioner Sharief district of Hallandale Beach, so she may be also interested in the issue.

Commissioner Sanders voted for original "red light" camera ordinance and I have tried to convince him to reconsider his position in light of the new developments. His answer was that "if Hallandale Beach would repeal the "red light" camera ordinance
and remove the cameras the State of Florida or Broward County would install new "red light" cameras and get all the money".

During the February 2, 2011 HB City Commission Meeting the question came up again and the the police officer making a report gave a somewhat confusing answer. He just danced around the issue without giving the residents a clear and convincing answer.

I would appreciate your help, as far as you know, in answering the following questions:
  • Is the State of Florida allowed by current law to install "red light" cameras in cities not having their own cameras?
  • As far as you know, did the State install any "red light" cameras?
  • Is Broward County allowed by current law to install "red light" cameras in cities not having their own cameras?
  • Does Broward County intend to install "red light" cameras in cities not having their own cameras?
Sincerely,
Csaba Kulin
President, Fairways North, Inc.
Vice President, United Condominium Associations of Hallandale Beach

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See also

FDOT
Traffic Infraction Detectors (Red Light Running Cameras)
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Operations/RLRC.shtm

FDOT Traffic Infraction Detector Placement and Installation Specifications,
July 1, 2010
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Doc_Library/PDF/Traffic%20Infraction%20Detector%20Placement%20and%20Installation%20Specifications%20July%201,2010.pdf

Speed and Red Light Camera Laws
:

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/auto_enforce.html

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