War On Driving

American Traffic Solutions Exposed in Florida "Yellow Light Shaving" Scandal

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:23:37 -0700

Anyone who pays attention to college or pro sports has seen a good “point shaving” scandal or two.

With all the big money to be made in gambling, players, coaches and even refs can be easily persuaded to manipulate the outcome of a game in favor of certain bookmakers. This is especially easy when the subject (usually a player) is having money troubles.

Politicians have been introduced to a similar pursuit by Redflex and American Traffic Solutions. Reducing yellow light durations by mere fractions of a second means millions more dollars are extracted from unsuspecting motorists approaching red light scamera intersections.

This “Yellow Light Shaving” has occurred all over the country, from Arizona to New York City.

The latest example has been uncovered by a network affiliate station in Tampa Bay, in quite a thorough investigation. By their estimates, Yellow Light Shaving has produced $50 Million more in citations to drivers in Florida.

The worst part is that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) was instructing cities and towns to shorten yellow lights, which make intersections much more dangerous.

The emails recovered by the reporter at WTSP (Tampa) clearly show that FDOT employees were instructing cities to shave time off yellow lights to increase revenue, safety be damned.

Also included in the report are the many other locations in Florida where yellow lights were shortened and the politicians who benefit financially from American Traffic Solutions raking in the money from these intersections.

Jerry Doyle Covers Michael Bloomberg and the War on Driving

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:11:00 -0700

Thanks again to Jerry Doyle for keeping the push back by Campaign for Liberty and War On Driving against the proliferation of scameras on high alert.

We are winning!

Audio from the 3.13.2013 Show:

Red Light Cameras Renamed by Washington Times

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:25:06 -0700

D.C.’s red light camera network is expanding rapidly, which may backfire against the vendors that are now data mining and ticketing politicians and bureaucrats on their daily journey into the beltway.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Washington Times, especially in the wake of the Chicago Bribery Scandal.

As revenue doubled from photo tickets in just one year (2011 vs 2012), the Times has come up with a very appropriate moniker for the flashing boxes:

Revenue Cameras.

From The Washington Times:

Privatizing law enforcement should never be done lightly. The combination of the government’s power to restrain individual liberty and greed for profit invites corruption. That’s the scenario playing out across the country with revenue cameras, sometimes called red-light cameras.

The most extensive photo-ticketing program in the world is in (surprise!) Chicago, and soon the greedy guys may be shopping for lawyers. The city had invitedRedflex Traffic Systemsto issue tickets in a deal that meant $100 million for the Australian firm and $300 million for the revenue pot stirred by the municipal bureaucrats. With numbers that big on the line, it’s hardly a surprise that the company behind this “safety” program cut corners to encourage the city to increase the number of cameras.

[Read More:]

Arizona Rejoices as Redflex Looks Doomed; Karen Finley Out

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:14:00 -0700

This is just about as bad as it can get for Redflex on a Saturday.

The third trading halt in less than a month is still in effect for their stock and the news they had been crisis-managing has hit the wires:

Three Top Redflex Executives Out as Corruption Probe Widens

One of those three is their CEO Karen Finley who resigns in shame with her company ripping apart at the seams.

Is this the final countdown in the Redflex Death Watch 2013?

From CameraFRAUD.org

Arizona, this one’s for you.

More fallout from the Redflex (we’re too corrupt for) Chicago Scandal. This time investors and bought politicians should be running for cover, deep cover. That being said…..

Memo to Arizona Politicians: [READ MORE]

Redflex Traffic Systems Officially in Panic Mode (ASX:RDF)

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:24:00 -0700

Far be it for a driving politics website like this one to make a judgment call on investing, especially in foreign trades.

However, it’s easy to spot a company who’s panicking as they’re usually the ones running around with their pants on fire.

From the “we swear this is standard procedure file,” Redflex Traffic Systems has been forced to announce a request for a trading halt on the ASX (Australian) where shares of Redflex Holdings, Inc are exchanged.

This is the second time this month Redflex has requested such a halt ahead of big news about the results of ongoing investigations into the company’s business dealings.

Since the February 6th announcement, shares of ASX:RDF are down 33%. Another such drop would place them well below $1.00 (AUS) per share, which would be near 10 year lows for the stock.

The company making the same move twice in the same month, along with all the other bad news out of Chicago spells trouble for Redflex, all over the globe.

Redflex Holdings, Inc. Trading Halt Announcement 2.27.13

Chicago Trib: Has Redflex Found Their Scapegoat in Arizona?

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:45:00 -0700

Redflex continues to prove the maxim, “there’s no honor among thieves.”

Instead of waiting for all the gory details about massive corruption within the company, relating to the decade long (and soon to be terminated) contract with Chicago, Redflex is sticking their head in the dirt.

It’s back to court for the camera vendor, who has now filed suit against their own VP, Aaron Rosenberg. Nevermind that he’s been conducting himself in the same way for the last 10 years, while the upper brass at Redflex defended him publicly.

The case has been filed in Arizona Superior Court, near Redflex’s U.S. headquarters.

[Chicago Tribune Article 2.22.13]

Arizona Activists Fire Back at Rep Karen Fann, Connect to Camera Lobby

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:02:00 -0700

Things got ugly in an Arizona Transportation committee hearing yesterday, where a lobbyist openly mocked a citizens’ initiative.

Subsequent research has tied the lobbyist for American Traffic Solutions to the committee chair, Rep Karen Fann (R - 1).

Fann talked members of her committee into voting against sending a bill to ban Redflex and American Traffic Solutions cameras to the floor of the House for debate. The committee process is usually reserved for vetting bills for their worthiness for floor debate. But Fann, whose business is making highway barricades, “roadblocked” it.

The bill in question is less than one page and bans unmanned ticketing devices, in the same fashion that 15 other states have done to date. [text of HB 2579]

Activists are accusing Fann of making a mockery of the committee process and allowing debate to drag on while flaunting the Arizona constitution [read more]

Redflex Buys Politicians in Arizona Too - Here's How:

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:51:00 -0700

The Redflex scandal in Chicago isn’t going away, any time soon. Politicians who may or may not be in bed with the camera vendor in other cities and states may claim that Chicago’s corruption doesn’t apply elsewhere.

Anyone using this excuse is either lying, ignorant or both.

Let’s take the entire state of Arizona as an example. More than 10 municipalities, such as Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tucson, Chandler, Prescott Valley, Surprise, etc still use a combination of speed or red light cameras. Despite the fact that photo tickets sent by mail are not legally binding in Arizona, millions of dollars in fines are still collected.

10% of that money goes into a fund ironically called “clean elections,” which provides public funding to political campaigns, like members of the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives. These folks, not coincidentally, are responsible for allowing photo radar and red light cameras to litter the roads and scam Arizona motorists.

What’s also NOT a coincidence is that 80% of candidates for Arizona Legislature use “clean” election money to fund their campaigns. If you connect the dots, that means that Redflex and American Traffic Solutions fund their operation and basically own them. If a bill (currently HB 2579) to ban them passes, most of that clean election money will instantly vanish. The political gravy train would stop dead in its tracks and there would be quite a few state senators and reps scrambling to find a way to fund re-election in 2014.

Those are the hard facts and they’re undeniable. Chicago-style corruption with backdoor payola is still likely to be going on, but the scheme in Arizona is right there in plain sight.

Despite the fact that two private companies with their high dollar lobbyists have taken ownership over Arizona legislature, bills to ban the system have failed by one vote in 2011 and 2012 after massive pressure by activists who won’t stop until they rid their state of these thieves.

Redflex and American Traffic Solutions (ATS) operate in several other states, but none of them have a system set up that allows for legislators to be bought and traded like old baseball cards. Arizona takes the cake in that department.

2013 brings Arizona legislators yet another chance to send themselves to rehab to kick that nasty “free money from lobbyists” habit.

HB 2579 goes to a committee hearing on Thursday February 21st in the state House of Representatives. How the committee members vote will say a lot about who they work for.

Chicago may have a trademark on their own style of corruption, but in some ways Arizona has done them one better.

Stay Tuned.

Chicago Boots Redflex; Shareholders Run For Cover

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:23:00 -0700

13% of Redflex Traffic Systems’ yearly revenue will evaporate in the next 6 months.

You don’t have to take our word for it, just check their latest news release [here].

This one is going to hurt and Redflex knows it. Last Wednesday, the foreign held camera vendor requested that the Australian Stock Exchange halt trading their stock ahead of the news that hit on Friday about the massive corruption in Chicago and the ongoing internal investigation.

The AUS gave them their wish, but it only temporarily staved off the investor bloodletting which came during Monday’s resumed trading of Redflex common shares.

At close of market, the stock had lost nearly 25% of its value as news hit the wires in Australia about the coming demise of Redflex’s largest (by far) contract. By 2012 figures, this would mean the company will start losing money very quickly.

Redflex’s deal with Macquarie Bank in 2011 fell apart in late negotiations after a shareholder revolt, but don’t be surprised to see them seek a bidder or have a hostile takeover bid before the summer of 2013.

The news is especially problematic as legislatures in Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Ohio are considering bills to make photo ticketing illegal in their respective states.

This should be the beginning of the end for the scamera giant, but getting their equipment torn down by their customers is going to be up to voters and (typically) unwilling politicians who are addicted to the cheap money.

Tracking and tagging motorists like cattle isn’t easy business, but massive corruption is not the way to stay under the radar for a company like Redflex.

Automated Ticketing Machine Ban Filed in Arizona Legislature

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:14:04 -0700

It must be sunny and 70 degrees in Phoenix again because there’s about to be a lot of sunshine blown up the posteriors of Arizonans from their state legislature.

However, if there’s one bill everyone’s hoping will pass, it’s the ban on those nasty speed and red light cameras. It’s no secret that Arizona basically invented photo ticketing in America and currently have the two largest companies in the country (Redflex and ATS) whose executives call the most fancy neighborhoods their home.

Jay Heiler (Redflex), the Tutons (Jim and Adam - ATS), Adam Draizin (ATS), Karen Finley (Redflex) and people like Frank Hinds (video below) who’ve made a career out of capitalizing on tragedy have all gotten fat off of photo radar money. However, their money-grab gravy train may soon be coming to an end.

Campaign for Liberty has filed their bill to ban all forms of unconstitutional photo ticketing (photo radar, speed cameras, red light cameras), throughout the state of Arizona.

This exact legislation has failed twice in the last two years by one vote in the Senate each time. This year the bill will originate in the House, but have the same wording.

Local news in Phoenix is picking up on the story, and as they say at the end of this segment, “a lot of folks will be watching this.”

Indeed.

San Diego's Red Light Cameras Shut Off; Soon to be Forgotten

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 19:35:00 -0700

American Traffic Solutions (ATS) and Redflex propagandists always act as if the sky will fall whenever their red light cameras are removed, especially in large cities.

The usual suspects from ATS were out to predict chaos in the absence of their scameras, but this time, almost nobody was listening. Not in the city of San Diego anyway.

Less than two years after their bigger neighbor to the north, Los Angeles, kicked ATS out, San Diego will follow suit.

Unlike L.A. however, there won’t be weeks of deliberating or votes in City Council.

This time the mayor did the right thing and ended a 15 year scam that had mostly filled the bank accounts of ATS execs while making the city’s intersections more dangerous and certainly chaotic.

Local t.v. news coverage:

Ohio Legislature to Introduce Camera Ban

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:04:00 -0700

We have it on good authority that an Ohio legislator will be introducing a full ban on photo ticketing across the entire Buckeye state. [language]

Despite public outcry in multiple Ohio cities, most recently in Cleveland, the red light and speed camera scam has been allowed to operate at the discretion of corrupt city councils and mayors.

East Cleveland may be the worst example. The mayor threatened to cut police and fire personnel if the council got rid of their cameras. Just over a year later, the cameras are still flashing away, but police officers were cut anyway.

The Campaign for Liberty model legislation language will be used in an organized push for an all-out ban.

Redflex Forced to Announce Clarification

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:33:39 -0700

Chicago news outlets had reported that a contract between the city of Chicago and Redflex Traffic Systems of Australia had been given a 6 month extension on their massive scamera contract which is set to expire in just over two weeks.

The problem with this news is that Redflex never got the memo from the city and because they’re an Australian publicly traded company, they’re forced to make a public announcement (below) that their contract with Chicago is still set to expire without an extension.

Updates to follow…

Tucson Motorist Smashes into ATS Scamera Van

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 14:04:00 -0700

American Traffic Solutions could easily have another lawsuit on their hands after putting their employee in danger by placing him in an obviously dangerous roadside position, trapped inside a photo radar van.

You’d think the government corporate welfare goons at ATS would have learned from Redflex and the danger of having employees sitting in live freeway photo radar vans [lawsuit], but obviously the safety of rank and file employees doesn’t factor into their revenue model.

From the article in AZStarnet.com, it was clear that the ATS employee was sitting inside the van during a “revenue extraction” shift which involves flashing drivers who pass by when the unreliable radar system indicates a traffic violation. [story]

The motorist who smashed into the ATS van was allegedly intoxicated. This brings up another constant failure of so-called photo enforcement - if the city of Tucson had instead placed a patrol officer on this road, he could have been able to stop a possible drunk driving fatality, while the scamera van merely served as an incredibly dangerous hazard.

This unfortunate situation clearly articulates the most dangerous and potentially fatal flaws of photo radar vans, manned and unmanned.

Election Day 2012: Redflex and ATS Team Up Despite Hatred

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:46:00 -0700

It’s no secret that executives at American Traffic Solutions (ATS) and Redflex hate each other. One sued the other over the freeway speed camera contract with the state of Arizona. Then the other counter-sued. It was quite amusing for those who were able to witness the proceedings and both companies were repeatedly reprimanded by the judge for their frivolous arguments.

ATS CEO Jim Tuton likes to brag that he served as mentor for current Redflex CEO Karen Finley. The company that is now called Redflex was actually started by Tuton and sold. Shortly thereafter he picked right back up in the scamera business, re-launching ATS to compete with his old organization.

Both Redflex and ATS have lost at the ballot box, several times over in the last 4-5 years. Usually it’s one or the other that are fighting the citizens to keep their flashing boxes mounted in their streets and intersections. In one case in 2012, they have pooled massive resources to beat a ballot measure in Murietta, CA.

They will both lose at the ballot box again today.

Murietta’s “Initiative N” would ban the $490 automated tickets sent out by ATS and scrap the cameras. The fight over this initiative has become so contentious that Redflex felt it necessary to jump in and donate $25,000 to a front group opposing the ban. [source]

The Press Enterprise from nearby Riverside, CA reports:

In filings over the past week or so, Safe Streets for Murrieta reported receiving $105,000 in contributions from two camera companies. Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions, which has a contract to provide red-light cameras to Murrieta, has given $80,000 to the committee.

The committee also reported a $25,000 donation from another Arizona-based camera company: Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. of Phoenix. Redflex does not have a contract with Murrieta.

The committee reported it had already spent $50,000 by Oct. 20. It made a late filing this week, reporting an additional $55,000 contribution from ATS.

It’s looking like the $1,000 that the supports of the ban have spent on yard signs is going to be more than enough to defeat this massive astro-turfy push by ATS and Redflex.

This isn’t the first time the two vendors have teamed up. They also fund the front group Red Means Stop. However, it has been a while since the two have so publicly joined resources to make a stink.

Missouri State Senator Wants Red Light Cameras Banned

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:45:00 -0700

Jim Lembke, a state senator from Missouri was interviewed by KMOV’s Chris Nagus in the report about American Traffic Solutions and the Tuton brothers.

Senator Lembke has been a staunch opponent of the red light camera scam in Missouri, so we decided to reach out and ask him a few questions about going up against these scammers and the complicit legislators who allow them to operate in Missouri.

Lembke has introduced legislation to make red light cameras illegal in his state for six years in a row and plans to push for that same legislation in the next session.

He had some interesting insight about the process.

WoD: Does the state of Missouri have a law which makes red light cameras legal?

Lembke: “Actually No. That has been one of my arguments against the system. What we have in Missouri are rogue municipalities who are passing ordinances allowing for red light camera use, which is contrary to state law.”

WoD: Last year, SB 611, a bill relating to yellow light timing that you introduced, passed and has been enacted. What specifically did the bill do and did you get complaints from the scamera companies and their apologists?

Lembke: 611 addressed some of the concerns and evidence we received about yellow lights being shortened in red light camera intersections. The shortened yellows were causing the dangerous “dilemma zone” effect and making accidents more likely to occur. This bill passed because it was all about safer intersections. The camera companies spend so much time talking about safety here in Missouri that they had to back down when we showed that longer yellow light times does what they can only claim their cameras do.

WoD: So basically you used their own arguments against them, saying that you could increase safety for free, while they are busy tinkering with signal timing and costing your state a lot of money in the process.

Lembke: Yes, that’s exactly what we did.

WoD: Well congrats, I think that argument could work well in many other states. Tell me about some of the positive response you’ve received while fighting against automated ticketing.

Lembke: Those who support upholding your constitutional rights have been very happy with my work

WoD: What would you suggest that people in Missouri who are fed up with the constitutional violations of the red light camera system do to help get rid of them.

Lembke: Communicate with your state legislators and show your support for outlawing this system across the state. Don’t let these rogue municipalities continue to violate your rights and subvert state law.

WoD: In that KMOV report, Ed Dowd, a former Federal Attorney and now legal counsel for American Traffic Solutions said, “red light cameras are needed because motorists want to be able to run red lights when they are in the mood for it.” How would you counter that?

Lembke: It’s shameful that a former federal attorney, turned hired gun for ATS would insult the citizens of Missouri that way. His company has also lobbied these municipalites to change their ordinances so that red light tickets are now treated just like parking tickets. They actually made the argument that when a car is in the intersection during a red light it is “technically illegally parked.” These people do not care about safety.

WoD: That might be the worst argument for the cameras I have ever heard. Wow. It seems like citizen backlash against the photo ticketing scam in MO is at an all time high. Does that make you hopeful that a ban of that system could happen in the next legislative season?

Lembke: Yes it does. Also because of term limits in MO, some of my political opponents who are politically and financially beholden to ATS are termed out, so the path to getting this ban passed is a bit smoother this time.

WoD: That’s encouraging. Do you have a message for ATS and the Tutons?

Lembke: Well I am a capitalist and all in favor of companies making money, but not when it’s off the back of the taxpayer. That’s what this camera system is forcing on the public. They write ordinances specifically designed to make ATS more money through the force of government. That needs to stop.

This was obviously some very candid insight about the operation of ATS is in Missouri and how Lembke has attempted to curtail it through legislation.

He is up for reelection on Tuesday, November 6th and his challenger has hired a political consultant named Joyce Aboussie. Aboussie was previously outed for receiving nearly 10% of all the revenue collected by American Traffic Solutions in the state of Missouri.

We know who ATS is rooting for in this election.

CBS St. Louis Reporter Exposes American Traffic Solutions

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:17:00 -0700

Earlier in October, Chris Nagus, an investigative reporter came out to Phoenix to interview WarOnDriving.com as well as Campaign for Liberty leadership in Arizona.

The report blew the lid off the outrageous amount of money funneling out of motorists’ pocket and into the mansions and lavish lifestyles of executives of American Traffic Solutions in Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, AZ.

Arizona Campaign for Liberty director, Shawn Dow, points out that the red light cameras in Missouri are a clear violation of constitutional rights, cause a physical danger to motorists and it’s all about making money for these scamera company executives.

They truly don’t care about safety because safe roads and intersections are bad for their bottom line.

Matt Hay, also featured in the report, who was a city councilman in Arnold, MO agrees, calling red light cameras “cash registers on poles.”

State Senator Jim Lembke, who has sponsored bills to eliminate red light cameras in Missouri for 6 years, speaks about the shortened yellow lights that were causing dangerous conditions in intersections, but designed to make ATS more money.

Thank you to CBS Saint Louis for contacting us and taking the time to consider the constitutional arguments against red light cameras. If only the media in Arizona would be this diligent….

Redflex Crushed by Chicago Media, Blogs; Loses Bid for Speed Cameras

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:54:00 -0700

The Chicago Tribune has been busy exposing the already well known connection between Rahm Emanuel, Redflex Traffic Systems and high dollar lobbyists.

This time the damage was a bit more fatal to Redflex, who has now lost out on the lucrative speed camera dragnet, which Emanuel has forced down the throats of his electorate. And their red light scamera program in Chicago (the largest in the U.S. with 384 cameras) is now in jeopardy.

Local media and blogs have begun piling on the beleaguered Australian camera vendor today, even printing the rejection letter [link] from the city for the speed camera contract proposal.

The whole matter is allegedly based on unreported hotel bills paid by Redflex for John Bills, a Chicago Dept. of Transportation official who oversaw their operations within the city, that amout to $910. It’s hard to believe that there isn’t more to this particular scandal than just that ethical blunder.

The Expired Meter, a motorist blog in the Windy City summed up the series of events quite nicely, but this is still a developing story:

More on this story from other major media outlets in Chicago:

City axes speed camera firm’s bid, citing delay in reporting ethics case (Chicago Tribune)

City’s Red-Light Camera Vendor Under Scrutiny (NBC Chicago)

Speed camera contract bid thrown out (WGN TV)

City Tosses Bid By Red Light Camera Vendor For Speed Camera Contract (Chicagoist)

The Jerry Doyle Show on Red Light Cameras Campaign For Liberty...

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:50:00 -0700

The Jerry Doyle Show on Red Light Cameras

Campaign For Liberty and WarOnDriving.com were covered for the second time by The Jerry Doyle Show on Friday, October 12th.

Thanks for helping us fight back!

AAA: New York City Cheating Drivers on Yellow Light Times

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:57:00 -0700

A new study by the American Automobile Association has come out and proved once again what we already knew about red light cameras:

They only make a profit for the cities when yellow light times are shortened.

This story involves scameras in New York City and has hit the NYC Presses in a big way. It was covered on CNN’s airwaves Monday:

Robert Sinclair, a spokesman for AAA in New York City spells out exactly how the scam works and goes on record to say that every red light camera intersection in NYC has short yellow light times.

This is probably just a coincidence, right? There’s no way Michael Big Brother Bloomberg would lie and actually have a profit motive for these cameras! Right??

Bloomberg was caught on camera saying that he’s not sure why there are yellow lights at all (NBC NY) - [link]

It must be nice to live in a big city where the mayor cares so much about his citizens that he wants to ban soda pop and yellow lights to keep them safe.

More coverage of Bloomberg, NYC, AAA and the brewing Red Light Camera scandal

City’s ‘gotcha’ traffic cameras use short yellow lights to increase ticket revenue: study - (NY Post)

City Scamming Drivers Into Tickets With Shorter Yellow Lights - (WPIX 11 NYC)

Report: Yellow Lights At Camera-Equipped NYC Intersections Too Short - (CBS New York)