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Source: Odessa American, TexasAug.新蒲崗迷你倉 16--The red light cameras that could be at an intersection near you in due time are being described as non-invasive and far less controversial than the red light cameras of yesteryears."This is going to help out tremendously. It's effective and efficient," Odessa Police Department spokesman Cpl. Steve LeSueur said.At the city council's pre-meeting briefing on Tuesday, the council and city staff heard from David Jackson, senior business development director at American Traffic Solutions, which is pitching the idea to Odessa's leaders.A decision by the city council could come this fall. The council is currently working on its next agenda for the Aug. 27 meeting and likely council members will return with more questions at another briefing and then open it up to a public hearing, Odessa Mayor David Turner said.During the about half-hour spent listening to Jackson's presentation, council members were educated on the potential of red light traffic cameras to lessen the number of accidents in Odessa and in turn save lives. The purpose of the cameras is to change drivers' behavior, Jackson said.In 2013, there have been 14 fatal car wrecks and 2,469 crashes in the city, according to figures from the OPD. Those figures are higher than 2011 when 2,245 reported vehicle wrecks and 11 fatal accidents. In 2010, OPD reported there were only 1,875 wrecks."With how short-handed the police department is right now" LeSueur said, it would help supplement those needs. Each incident would have to be reviewed by a police officer from a computer (each violation is captured in a 12-second video and with still photos) and approved or declined based on the facts of the case.Since it's not considered a criminal offense and isn't added to a person's driving record, LeSueur said, it's a "definite positive."ATS would pay the upfront cost to install the cameras, but the city would pay them back with revenue generated by the cameras with a monthly fee of $4,750 for each camera installed for five years, Odessa Traffic Coordinator Hal Feldman said. Thereafter, a portion of the funds go into state coffers as required by state law while the rest go back into traffic safety, either through education or the police department.Tickets are limited to $75 as determined by Texas law. A violation is considered a civil offense and a person couldn't be criminally prosecuted for the violation. Drivers would be penalized only if they are crossing the white line after a stop light turns red, not if it's yellow or turns red as the vehicle is passing through, Jackson said."We're not in this for the money. We're in this for safety. We hope the citizens realize that and the council realizes that," LeSueur said.On Tuesday, council members mostly listened to Jackson's presentation with a few questions reserved for whether the cameras would show the driver or passenger and what migmini storaget happen if the person billed for the violation wasn't driving at the time.Councilman the Rev. Roger McNeil asked about the devices out there that are used to confuse the red light cameras to get out of a ticket, to which Jackson said that ATS has it taken care of. It's been shown in other cities with red light cameras, and mentioned by Jackson Tuesday night, that rear-end collisions do increase at stop lights but the fender-benders are far less dangerous than higher speed right angle collisions.As Jackson was questioned by Councilman Dean Combs about how many lawsuits ATS was currently involved in, Jackson couldn't give a specific number but rather that there were always pending lawsuits. Combs pressed him on the types of lawsuits even still. Jackson said mostly "the right to face an accuser" (a clause within the Sixth Amendment). Combs continued questioning about how many Texas cities have installed red light cameras to then pull out of the contract. As they were speaking, Jackson came up with two cities, then three cities and finally four, citing that the cities didn't find the cameras effective.Nationwide in the past few years, Los Angeles and Houston turned off their red light cameras (administered by ATS) after public uproar in Houston convinced the city council to cut the contract, while in Los Angeles the city was losing money because not enough tickets were handed out to support them.Contracts for cameras were up to 689 last year, from 155 in 2005, according to data compiled by ATS. The City of Odessa looked at adding red light cameras in 2007 but quickly dismissed the idea and never acted on it, according to a past OA story.LeSueur did say that OPD supports whatever decision the council makes.Sticking points presented by ATS:--No photos are taken of the driver or passengers. Photos are taken "back-only" of the rear license plate and 24/7 video for police to review.--The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety determined in 2011 that fatalities dropped by 24 percent at intersections where they are used.--The Texas Transportation Institute found in a 2008 study that they lowered right angle collisions by 43 percent. Follow up study showed a decrease of 24 percent.--Excess revenue must be directed only toward traffic safety after being split with the state, according to state law.--The program is violator-funded, no cost to taxpayers.--A transfer-of-liability waiver is available if the person who received the violation was not the driver.--If an offender doesn't pay, they could be turned over to a municipal collection agency, a hold may be placed on their license tag until they pay the fine.--Contact Lindsay Weaver on twitter at @OAschools, on Facebook at OA Lindsay Weaver or call 432-333-7781.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at .oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage