Manatee County activates new red-light cameras

MANATEE -- Even as the Florida Legislature considers banning red-light cameras on state roads, county commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved turning on cameras at two county intersections to help train staff on operations and to give drivers ample warning that the cameras are operating.

Commissioners initially were reluctant to turn on the cameras currently installed at 15th Street East and 57th Avenue West and at the intersection of 53rd Avenue West and 34th Street West, given the state’s move to repeal the red-light cameras, calling them intrusive and a move to generate revenues, rather than a serious safety measure.

Commissioners Donna Hayes and Joe McClash said they were concerned about incurring costs for cameras that might disappear at the end of the legislative session. In addition, McClash said the contract with the company that provides the red-light camera services will have to be reworked based on what the Legislature ultimately decides.

Commissioners said they were also concerned about the cost of operating cameras. The current contract with the county calls for a fee of $4,650 a month to be paid to ACS, LLC, which has spent about $500,000 to install the cameras and other equipment.

Cheri Coryea, director of neighborhood services, told commissioners that by turning on the cameras now, the county will have time to work with the sheriff’s office on the training needed to implement the system, as well as make sure drivers know it’s coming.

“We will have a contract ready to go if the Legislature doesn’t repeal this,” she said.

During the 30-day warning period, the county would not have to pay any fees to ACS, even if the law is repealed, she added.

Bradenton has had red-light cameras operating at several intersections, the first one went into service in August 2009 after Rep. Ron Reagan worked to pass the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, named for a Bradenton man who was killed when someone ran a red light at Tara Boulevard and State Road 70.

The county has plans for several more cameras, including one at S.R. 70 and Tara Boulevard, at U.S. 41 and 57th Street West, and at Cortez Road and 26th Street West.

Hayes said she was disappointed that the county’s first camera was not the one at Tara Boulevard.

This story was originally published April 13, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County activates new red-light cameras."