The City of Winnfield has begun implementation of a photo enforcement system of traffic control in conjunction with Meta Traffic, a camera-based traffic control plan that was approved by the City Council at its August and September meetings.
“We’re not writing tickets now,” said Asst. Chief Charles Curry to assuage concerns of drivers who may see equipment and signage being set up along the five-lane. “We’re still in the middle of training officers with the hand-held equipment. It will be a gradual process. First there will be a few weeks of educating the public about the program. Then there will be a time of monitoring driving speed but issuing only warnings. Writing of ‘civil violation’ tickets will then be phased in.”
He went on to say that “safety should be our top priority” in response to the question of need for a speed reduction program. Over the first nine months of this year, there have been 28 accidents along the city’s US Hwy 167/84 corridor. Another three months remain. This plus school zones will be the target areas of the photo enforcement program.
The department noted that no ‘traffic citation’ has been written here for speeds of 1 to 10 mph over the limit. The statistical average is 17 mph over. A speeding fine under the new civil violation program could run $150 but the same fine under the traditional traffic citation in City Court would run $250. Additionally, since it is a civil violation, the ticket is not reported to DMV to go on a driving record and affect insurance costs, Curry reports.
The plan, as explained to the council, will see cameras placed at key traffic areas, with likely relocations, which will record license plates (not drivers) of speeding vehicles. This information will be transmitted to the Meta Traffic center which, in turn, will file a monthly report with the Winnfield Police Department.
“The Police Chief and his staff will decide who gets sent the civil violation ticket, not the company,” assured Curry. “We have the final say.” He noted that when this automated equipment is used, officers will be freed to concentrate on “more pressing community problems such as violent crimes and illegal drug activities.” (Officers will also have the opportunity to monitor the system during their off-duty hours to make some additional money. “Funding for their pay would come from monies generated by the program, not from the city budget.”
Watch the Journal for updates on this program.
