Dem Arizona Gov Seeks To Erase State Deficit With Speeding Tickets
PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano says the deployment of new photo radar or other speed enforcement technology on state highways is all about public safety. But her proposed state budget counts on the anticipated speeding fines to help erase a projected revenue shortfall.
The proposal, submitted to the Legislature late Friday, anticipates $120 million in revenue the first year, including $90 million in net income after expenses from the statewide effort. Even bigger dollar amounts are expected in future years.
The state faces a projected revenue shortfall of at least $1.2 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
While some states use photo radar and similar technology on a limited basis in areas such as construction zones, experts said Arizona is in the vanguard of moving toward a widespread deployment of speed technology on highways.
“It wasn’t designated primarily for revenue generation but since we have it (and) it works, we want to move statewide,” Napolitano said. “We made that decision before the whole budget issue arose. Now we take advantage of it and use it for law enforcement highway safety purposes.”
The governor’s budget aides said Friday they could not immediately provide details on assumptions used to project the revenue estimate, including the numbers of expected violations.
Napolitano’s plan needs approval by the Republican-led Legislature, and one key lawmaker expressed immediate opposition.
“I don’t know whether Arizonans want to be policed by cameras,” said Senate Transportation Chairman Ron Gould, adding that he plans legislation to require that voters decide the issue. “It smacks of Big Brother to me.”
Proposals calling for even limited use of cameras have run into opposition in some states.
Maryland’s transportation secretary on Tuesday told lawmakers that cameras in highway work zones would improve worker safety and reduce accidents, but lawmakers raised concerns on privacy, effectiveness and motive.
Arizona Automobile Association spokeswoman Linda Gorman said the 750,000-member group representing drivers supports photo radar as a way to improve traffic safety but not to help balance the state budget.
A year ago, Napolitano cited results from suburban Scottsdale’s use of fixed cameras on a stretch of state freeway when she directed the state Department of Public Safety to begin researching the possible use of new speed enforcement devices.
An Arizona State University professor who studied the Scottsdale project found that it reduced speeding and accident rates. That system uses sensors embedded in the freeway to trigger cameras that snap photos of speeding vehicles. Motor vehicle records are checked to find the vehicles’ owners, ultimately leading to citations for identified drivers.
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In 2007, another Democrat Governor tried to use traffic violations to raise revenue. Virginia gov Keane, approved surcharges to various traffic violations that in some cases amounted to thousands of dollars. (drunk driving). Speeding added several hundred $ in surcharges. Besides the surcharges, Virginians were pissed that the charges only applied to Virginians. Out of staters got a pass. One year of this BS and an irate popluation, the Governor requested that the law be repealed. Why is it the democrats always look to raise taxes and fees and never to cutiing cost and waste. I hope you all are thinking about 2008 elections and the ramnifications of a democrat president/congress. God help us all.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:13 amultimately leading to citations for identified drivers.
What is an identified driver? Is it the vehicle owner? I don’t see how you can issue some tickets and not others.
The other point is this is another perfect example of a State Government that cannot pay for all that they want to do so they just tax the people more. Half of their problem is they have too many people that do not want to deport illegals. I think that it will be hard to justify to the people of Arizona.
January 19th, 2008 at 9:07 amIt doesn’t take much to find the problems with this Redflex photocop system. Ironically, an Obahma supporter , - just like the good ol’ gov - , was issued a citation when clearly he was not the one driving, wrong picture. Somehow his rental a PT Cruiser was identified instead of the JEEP that is clearly in the picture. Not only that Enterprise rent a car divulged his personal info to Scottsdale Police w/o a warrant being issued. It doesn’t get more big brother than that.
January 19th, 2008 at 10:47 am