Last week, Manitou Springs Police Chief Bill Otto gave City Council an informational presentation on speed cameras. Joining Otto to present to council was Russel Sarpy, a representative with Louisiana-based Emergent Enforcement Solutions, a speed camera vendor.
While researching speed cameras, Otto conferred with Morrison Police Chief Bill Vinelli, who recommended Sarpy.
“I didn’t really understand how this all worked,” said Otto. “[Vinelli] walked me through it. He showed me how the cameras take a photograph, what they’re looking for. He explained the process. The main thing that really got me confused was what happens after there’s a picture taken of a car and its license plate. How do we work with this? He explained to me the ins and outs of it … We’re pretty much hands off once we set these things up.”
Otto and Sarpy explained to council how either a handheld camera radar system or a stationary pole camera could be used to photograph vehicles traveling 10 miles over the speed limit and issue a citation.
“If somebody is captured on a speed camera going 10 miles per hour or over it’s going to be a $40 fine,” explained Otto. “If it’s a school zone, it’s the only one that can automatically double to an $80 fine. There are no points assessed against your license, there’s nothing reported to the insurance companies, the Department of Revenue, nothing like that. We give the opportunity for people who violate this the option to pay the $40 and be done with it. If they decide to contest it, then we set a hearing.”
According to Otto, citations would be civil action. Sarpy’s company would process the violations and issue the citations through the mail. Individuals who fail to pay their fines would be reported to a private collections firm.
“More than likely, in a city, in this area, depending on where you put that [speed camera] you’re going to get a 75 to 85% reduction in speeders,” said Sarpy. “Your people that live here and that commute to this town daily, they’re going to complain about it. The chief knows, I’ve been telling him all the pitfalls, all of the problems, that come with such a system. You know, 90% of the problems are going to be [that] increased citations mean increased complaints. There’s no way around it.”
The stationary camera would cost the city $31,000, while the handheld camera runs $7,000, but Otto said Emergent Enforcement Solutions would provide the handheld unit free of charge if the City contracts with them. Morrison, which deals with increased traffic to the Red Rocks Amphitheater, went all-in, purchasing two stationary camera units. Otto recommended against that.
“What happened in Morrison when they got their cameras up and running — they picked up 14,000 violations in a two-week period,” said Otto. “There’s no way they could keep up with it.”
Before issuing violations, the city would have a 30-day warning period for violations, and Sarpy encouraged Council to consider a robust public education program.
“I generally like this approach,” said Mayor John Graham. “We’ve had the [City Council] room close to being filled with people complaining about traffic safety on Crystal Park Road, Becker’s Lane, El Paso and some of that, so I think the ability to have portable enforcement is good.”
Council will have to approve an ordinance allowing the use of speed cameras. Manitou Springs City Manager Denise Howell said a draft of the ordinance would be available for Council at the end of September or beginning of October.
“We will put one of these trailers in the budget for next year,” Howell told Otto.
