Tennessee Watchdog Group Calls For Removal Of Red Light Cameras

A new report by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research calls for the removal of red light cameras across the Volunteer State, including the ones in Kingsport. The report suggests red light cameras are unsafe, unconstitutional, and unnecessary.

TCPR Director of Legal Policy Justin Owen claims the cameras don’t improve safety. Owen formed that conclusion after sifting through data from various Tennessee police departments.

“The only thing that increases is the amount of money going from the pockets of drivers into the pockets of the cities and the red light camera companies,“ Owen said.

In 2006, prior to installing cameras, the Model City brought in a little more than $342,000 from fines, the report stated. A year later, the TCPR reports Kingsport collected $1.5 million in fines, with more than half going to Red Flex, the company responsible for the cameras.

“Both the companies and the cities have a strong incentive for people to be running red lights,“ Owen said. “If people stop running red lights, the companies go out of business and the cities lose revenue.“

His point, when you’re making that much money, why would you even consider another solution? A better solution, in TCPR’s eyes, would be to remove red light cameras and lengthen the yellow caution light from anywhere from a half second to one-and-a-half seconds.

TCPR alos lists safety as a top concern in its report. The non-profit organization argues the fear of getting a ticket has resulted in more rear-end collisions. Owen also says red lights cameras just aren’t fair. His report found of the 15,000 citations written in Kingsport in the last two years, only nine people were found not guilty. TCPR says that screams unconstitutional. The reason, since so few violations are successfully challenged, people who violate the law are guilty until proven innocent, rather than innocent until proven guilty.

“The burden is on you from the get go and it makes it very difficult and that’s why we see a consistent 99% guilty rate with these things,“ Owen said.

Kingsport Deputy Police Chief David Quillin read the report today and responded to its claims.

“Thus far here in the State of Tennessee, the courts have ruled on our sides that these cameras are constitutional,“ Quillin said.

As far as the other findings, Quillin insists the cameras remain in Kingsport for safety reasons not for revenue.

“We initially installed these cameras for safety. That’s what it was about in the very beginning. That’s what is is still about,“ Quillin said.

Quillin admits, rear-end collisions have increased by 15% in the Model City, but he says the cameras have reduced the city’s more dangerous T-bone type accidents by 50%.

“The benefit of reducing right angle collisions by 50% greatly outweighs any increase, in this case, a slight increase of rear-end collisions,“ Quillin said. “When you look at the numbers, what we intended to accomplish, I think we’ve done that. I think the numbers speak for themselves.“