Last week the city of Phoenix announced that it would no longer be using traffic cameras at red lights or for speed on city streets beginning on January 1, 2020.
A proposal to extend and renew the contract for the cameras was brought before Phoenix’s City Council and failed in a 4 – 5 member vote.
Phoenix currently has installed fixed red light cameras at a total of 12 intersections within the city and several portable speed enforcement units, which can be moved to various schools and residential areas.
Since their installation, those in favor of keeping the cameras claim that the program which began in September of 2009 has generated more than $7 million in revenue for the city for over 200,000 traffic citations issued through September 30, 2018.
Though widely supported by many law enforcement agencies around the country, traffic cameras have come under increased scrutiny by the public. Many city governments have also questioned their use and have decided to discontinue using them because they are monitored by out of state, private companies.
In an interview with KJZZ radio, Councilman Michael Nowakowski said that he voted against extending the red-light traffic camera contract renewal because city staff never gave him information requested about them several months ago.
