The city turned off its red light cameras this morning, bringing an end to a program that since 2006 had collected more than $44 million in fines from red-light runners across Houston.
A wave of legal wrangling over the matter has just begun, however, as the city also filed a lawsuit seeking the opinion of a federal judge about how it should terminate its contract with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions, which was not to end until 2014.
Mayor Annise Parker said all tickets issued to drivers before 10 am today remain valid and must be paid.
“As of just a few minutes ago, the cameras are off,” she said at a specially called City Council meeting. “We have also taken action to protect the city in the inevitable litigation.”
Parker also told council that the city will be “somewhat hampered” in its efforts to continue closely monitoring the 50 intersections where 70 cameras had been placed, noting that the loss of the devices could mean an immediate reduction in police overtime that would be critical for that kind of traffic enforcement. Those intersections had been some of the most dangerous, she said. City officials have estimated the end of the camera program could mean a $10 million hit to the police budget this fiscal year.
George Hittner, vice president of ATS, was not immediately available for comment.
bradley.olson@chron.com
