St. Petersburg City Council members decided not to pull the plug on the 22 red light cameras across the city. Council member Wengay Newton made a motion to terminate the contract with ATS, the company that operates city's controversial red light cameras.
Newton put an item on today's agenda to address the latest concerns about the cameras from Clerk of Circuit Court Ken Burke.
Burke said to all municipalities across Pinellas County that, in part, the ticket-issuing program is riddled with "poor communication, insufficient information and... unfair penalties."
Opponents of the program have laid out at least nine problems with it, including yellow light times that are too short.
"It's obvious the system is flawed," said council member Leslie Curran. "It's been flawed from the beginning."
In the meantime, Mayor Bill Foster recently put a moratorium allowing exceptions for those who sign affidavits. That would include people driving rental cars, for example, or car owners who received a ticket after someone else was behind the wheel.
"I decided that it was just patently unfair to not have that ability to issue the notice of violations which is why the city made the decision that it did," Foster said at Thursday's meeting.
He said the city will work with state lawmakers to address the problems the city is seeing. Legally, council members can't make changes in the way the system runs; they can just simply terminate the contract if they see fit, which the majority did not on Thursday.
"This is one of those things that is real simple to fix: Don't run red lights," said council member Jeff Danner.
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Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:51 GMT
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring. Numerous customers of Pompano Beach-based Nationwide Pools contacted 8
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:51 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:51:06 GMT
Attorney William Grant is representing the family of Jamie Seeger. Grant says they want answers on why Seeger did not have protection as a confidential informant for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. To the left of Grant is Wendy Moore, Seeger's mother
The family of a female confidential informant says, they want answers. Last July, Jamie Seeger was found shot to death in her car in Crystal River.
The family of a female confidential informant says, they want answers. Last July, Jamie Seeger was found shot to death in her car in Crystal River.
Thursday, June 20 2013 6:44 AM EDT2013-06-20 10:44:30 GMT
State health officials said Wednesday they were beefing up security of the statewide prescription drug database to protect patient information.
State health officials said Wednesday they were beefing up security of the statewide prescription drug database to protect patient information, a week after the American Civil Liberties Union said patients' personal information was leaked.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:51 GMT
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring. Numerous customers of Pompano Beach-based Nationwide Pools contacted 8
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 2:46 PM EDT2013-06-18 18:46:51 GMT
Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire. Earlier this month the company refused
Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire. Earlier this month the company refused
Tuesday, June 18 2013 1:09 PM EDT2013-06-18 17:09:00 GMT
Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, a new government report says. Last year, about 18 percent of adults participating in a national health survey described themselves as current smokers.
Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, a new government report says. Last year, about 18 percent of adults participating in a national health survey described themselves as current smokers.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:01 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:01:00 GMT
It seems getting down on one knee with a ring is taking a backseat to some very creative marriage proposals. In recent years, men have conceptualized and executed marriage proposals that have raised
It seems getting down on one knee with a ring is taking a backseat to some very creative marriage proposals. In recent years, men have conceptualized and executed marriage proposals that have raised
Thursday, June 20 2013 1:13 AM EDT2013-06-20 05:13:50 GMT
An Indiana mother's attempt to get a graduation cake for her daughter turned into a humorous viral photo. The cake was supposed to feature a graduation "cap" on top of the photo of her daughter, but
An Indiana mother's attempt to get a graduation cake for her daughter turned into a humorous viral photo. The cake was supposed to feature a graduation "cap" on top of the photo of her daughter, but
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:50 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:50:46 GMT
Sheriff Al Nienhuis would like to verify that the Hernando County Sheriff's Office is currently working on one of hundreds of very ambiguous leads in the Jennifer Odom Homicide.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis would like to verify that the Hernando County Sheriff's Office is currently working on one of hundreds of very ambiguous leads in the Jennifer Odom Homicide.
