We made the bold prediction right here that the LA red light scamera program would be “overwhelmingly voted down” by city council. Alas, we miscalculated a bit as it was UNANIMOUS, just as it was in the LAPD Commission and the council committees this week.

The city of Los Angeles is done with their red light cameras and the rest of the country is certainly taking note.

The council spent 80 minutes (video) discussing the vote which took place yesterday to end the contract with American Traffic Solutions. Councilman Bernard Parks desperately tried to save the program or the equipment, even suggesting that the ATS scam boxes be allowed to “monitor intersections to determine proper yellow light timing.” That would be a little like asking the fox how to make the hen house “safer.”

Councilman Dennis Zine opened the discussion by quizzing some members of the LAPD about what happens to motorists who ignore the $476.00 bills in the mail from ATS. He claimed that the council members were disturbed to find out just this week that the info is saved by the courts indefinitely and can be accessed by anyone who works for the LA County court system. Zine suggested these records should be purged. No kidding!

Where exactly is this information being used, or better yet, sold? 65,000 ticketed motorists, many wrongfully, have info in the court system supplied by ATS that admittedly (by LAPD and City Council) could “cost them their job.” This is truly a failure to protect the rights of the people of Los Angeles.

Another scenario yet to be determined is exactly how the ATS scrap metal will be removed from L.A. intersections and who will be responsible for the clean up.

We’d like to announce the formation of Scamera Enterprises, LLC and our intention to bid on that project. Don’t worry LA, this company is based “somewhere outside of Arizona,” so we won’t violate your AZ boycott. We’ll start the bid at $1.00 plus airfare for our volunteers.

Think about it Los Angeles… your red light scameras have been costing you $1.5 Million per year in losses and CALDOT is bidding $155k to remove them. Our $1.00 bid is extremely competitive and will help make up some of those losses.

All kidding aside, congrats to the people of Los Angeles and SaferStreetsLA.org for holding your Police Dept and City Council accountable. This victory is yours.

by CameraFRAUD

UPDATE: After testimony, mostly by ATS employees, including Charley Territo and CEO James Tuton, LA City Council decided to delay even voting on the “suggestive measure” until Tuesday.

LAist has more details.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

American Traffic Solutions is clinging to life in Los Angeles for another 48 hours, but the likelihood of them surviving the month of June is extremely low.

Two council members have been persuaded by an ATS lobbyist to introduce a motion to continue the red light camera scam on a monthly basis while a “safety analysis” is conducted.

A 2/3 majority is needed to overrule the unanimous decision of the LAPD commission to nix the scamera system and 2 council members is not nearly enough. According to an LA Times piece from Tuesday, there’s a lot of doubt that the motion would carry any water at all even if it was passed.

The bottom line is that Friday is the deadline for the council to take action and the clock is ticking on ATS. One of the council members who now appears to be in the back pocket of ATS is saying that a vote on this measure to save the program is “likely.”

Calls by CameraFRAUD asking for an official statement this week were not returned. The city council seems to be in disarray over the police commission’s recommendation and the most likely scenario is that ATS intersection cams in Los Angeles will be turned off by the end of June.

More debate on this subject courtesy of Pajamas Media (PJTV) from last week:

by CameraFRAUD