Texas Federal Court Dismisses Class Action Lawsuit Against Redflex Traffic Systems
PHOENIX, Ariz.—March 27, 2009—Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., the largest provider of
photo enforcement systems for roads and highways in the U.S., announced that a Texas Federal
Court has dismissed in its entirety a class action lawsuit against the company seeking damages
for Redflex’s alleged failure to maintain a private investigator’s license.
On November 24, 2008, a group of plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit against Redflex in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The class action lawsuit alleges
that Redflex was negligent in failing to maintain a private investigator's license as purportedly
required by the Texas Occupations Code. The plaintiffs sought to recoup from Redflex the fines
they paid after receiving citations for running red lights.
On March 24, 2009, United States District Court Judge Michael Schneider, the judge overseeing
the class action lawsuit, ruled from the bench and issued a minute order dismissing the plaintiffs'
entire complaint against Redflex. A formal order dismissing the case has been issued.
Judge Schneider concluded that the individual plaintiffs and class representatives lacked
standing to assert any claims against Redflex. Judge Schneider's opinion is consistent with that
of the Texas Private Security Bureau, the division within the Texas Department of Public Safety
charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing the licensing provisions of the
Texas Occupations Code. This body recently issued an advisory opinion concluding that
companies administering red light camera programs, such as Redflex, are not required by Texas
law to maintain a private investigator's license.
“This is a dual victory. The ruling, together with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s,
reinforces our belief that our operations are fully consistent with Texas law,” said Karen Finley,
president and CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. “Equally significant is that this ruling
should dissuade other suits of this nature.”
Red light camera programs have proven to decrease drastically the incidence of red light running
and collisions all over the nation. In a recent study conducted by Texas A&M University’s
Transportation Institute, monitored intersections have shown an overall 30 percent decrease in
collisions and dangerous right angle collisions were reduced by 43 percent. For the full study, go
to: ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/trf/final_report_rlc_1008.pdf
State of Arizona Expands Statewide Highway Speed Monitoring Program through Redflex
State of Arizona Expands Statewide Highway Speed Monitoring Program through Redflex
First program of its kind in the nation is a breakthrough for speed enforcement
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 18, 2008 – REDFLEX Traffic Systems announced today its selection by the Arizona Department of Public Safety to substantially expand the nation’s first statewide highway speed monitoring program to include up to 200 camera systems. Redflex is currently providing a speed monitoring pilot program for the state utilizing two mobile van units deployed across the state to deter speeding.
This expansion will be the largest program for speed enforcement on state highways and roads in the nation. The awarded contract is for 200 systems which include 40 mobile speed systems, 10 mobile red light systems, 90 dedicated fixed speed systems and 30 combination systems operating in two directions. The contract term is two years plus three one-year extensions.
The selection of Redflex to provide freeway speed enforcement cameras for the state resulted from a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) issued from the Department of Public Safety and included a highly competitive analysis of all vendors on the basis of financial stability, program pricing, technology, implementation and customer service. Vendors participating in the RFP included Redflex, Nestor Traffic Systems and American Traffic Solutions.
“Our selection reflects a huge commitment from the state of Arizona to the safety of its highways and is the culmination of the efforts of many, including Governor Napolitano, the Arizona House and Senate, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Redflex and countless others,” said Karen Finley, President and CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems. “This ground-breaking program sets a significant precedence on the use of photo enforcement cameras to monitor speed and enhance traffic safety on state roads in the U.S.,” said Finley.
Arizona’s speed enforcement program was originally authorized by Governor Janet Napolitano who cited an independent study by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration as proof positive that highway speed photo enforcement offers significant law enforcement and public safety benefits.
"The pilot project on the Loop 101 was very successful," Napolitano said in a written statement. "It had an impact on speeding. It had an impact on accidents."
Redflex was the technology provider for a nine-month study conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety on Arizona highway Loop 101, where the freeway speed-enforcement cameras were shown to reduce the average speed of all vehicles by nine mph. Single vehicle collisions were reduced by 63 percent and speeding-related injuries were down 48 percent. The program was also credited with saving $16.5 million per year, due to reduced property damage, medical expenses and insurance costs.
Drivers exceeding the posted speed limit are photographed by fixed and mobile Redflex cameras which are reviewed by officials who confirm a violation has occurred and issue a citation. At the outset of the highway speed enforcement pilot project, Redflex technology documented dangerous speeders traveling on Highway 101, including one ticket issued for speed in excess of 140 mph.
About REDFLEX Traffic Systems
REDFLEX Traffic Systems Inc. is the largest provider of digital red light and speed enforcement services in North America. With headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, and offices across the United States, the company provides traffic safety technology and administrative expertise that helps reduce deaths and injuries resulting from traffic collisions. REDFLEX, which partners with public safety officials in state and local governments, has created many of the technology and processing methods that are now standard in the photo-enforcement industry. Founded in 1986, REDFLEX Traffic Systems is the longest consistently operating company in the industry. For more information visit www.redflex.com.
###
REDFLEXred debuts in Denver
DENVER -- The Colorado capitol will launch its red light camera program this summer as the first of four REDFLEXred intersections goes live.
*Click on the image to view a Denver media clip
Redflex officials joined Denver's police and public works leaders May 22 at a media event roadside at northbound Quebec Street and 36th Avenue, the first of the four intersections expected to go live. The Quebec/36th intersection is considered one of the greatest threats for dangerous broadside collisions in the city.
Motorists will receive a 30-day warning period before the cameras go live.
During the Denver media event, reporters cited nearby Fort Collins' photo enforcement program results as a precedent in Colorado. The Fort Collins-Redflex partnership is one of the longest-running photo enforcement partnerships in the U.S.
Fort Collins has noted a 63 percent drop in broadside collisions at camera-controlled intersections over the course of the decade-old program. Fort Collins also saw a gradual decline in red light running violations between 2003-2006 at the city's original two REDFLEXred® intersections.
The Denver Post reported that, "during the 20-minute news conference, a van and a four-door sedan drove through red lights."
Photo credit: KWGN Channel 2
Austin targets red light runners
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas capitol is set to go live with its first red light camera at the intersection of the Interstate 35 northbound service road and 11th Street after launching its robust public outreach campaign with Redflex.
The local photo enforcement initiative, passed in November 2007, has now evolved into the sophisticated "Keep Austin Safe" program. A total of nine intersections have been identified for initial REDFLEXred cameras and additional intersections will be activated this year. All red light camera intersections will be identified for drivers with a traffic sign stating "Photo Enforced."
Austin media coverage of the city's comprehensive public outreach efforts, which were conducted this spring with Redflex guidance, were also very positive from TV to newspapers.
The city is running Redflex' "Excuses" public service announcement in English and Spanish. The Austin Police Department added a city-specific statistic into the PSAs, citing an annual 1,300 accidents related to red light running.
Additionally, there have been three or more fatalities attributed to red light running during each of the last three years in Austin.
After months of extensive city evaluation, Redflex was announced in March as the new red light camera provider for Austin. The Texas capitol boasts 657,000 residents and one of the largest universities in the world - the University of Texas at Austin.
The selection comes on the heels of the city's challenging red light camera pilot program this fall in which Redflex was directly compared with American Traffic Solutions for one month.
During the Austin pilot, Redflex and ATS were required to install and operate a fully functional red light runner detection system at two intersections on the I-35 frontage road downtown.
The pilot program involved an evaluation of both systems based on a number of factors, including system concept, demonstrated experience in number of systems/programs, quality of output in ratio of violations to violation letters and price.
Redflex significantly outscored ATS with more than double the evaluation points, earning 37 of 40 possible points, or the equivalent of an "A" rating for technology performance, timeliness, and customer service responsiveness.
ATS received 19 of 40 points or the equivalent of a "non-passing grade."
A similar competition was held by the City of Corpus Christi in March 2007 where REDFLEX also was selected, besting ATS and Siemens Energy & Automation.
Redflex' $15.8 million contract with Austin includes monitoring up to 15 intersections over five years, plus two possible five-year extensions. Austin is now the third-largest city in Redflex' family of cities, behind Chicago and Columbus. Austin has a greater population than El Paso, which is closer to 600,000 residents.
Photo credit: Austin Statesman-Journal
Poll shows Louisiana support
LAFAYETTE, La. -- A strong majority of Lafayette residents embrace red light cameras and photo speed-enforcement cameras as tools to curb dangerous driving, according to poll results released this week.
More than 66 percent of the 403 registered Lafayette voters polled this spring by Southern Media & Opinion Research said they support, or "strongly support," the use of the SafeLight Lafayette red light cameras. Meanwhile, 61 percent of those polled said they support or strongly support the use of Lafayette's SafeSpeed fixed and mobile photo speed-enforcement cameras.
Nearly 86 percent of those polled said they believe red light running is "extremely dangerous" or "very dangerous" to drivers and passengers while 70 percent said the same about speeding.
Less than 4 percent of those polled said they do not consider red light running or speeding to be problems in Lafayette. According to Lafayette's poll, 66 percent of registered voters would vote to keep the city-parish's automated enforcement program if given the choice on a ballot.
Nearly 77 percent said video red light cameras make them feel safer while 72 percent said video speed enforcement cameras make them feel safer.
Lafayette residents have embraced automated enforcement faster than residents in other
U.S. communities. For example, polling conducted by Redflex and city officials in Scottsdale, Ariz. showed that 55 percent of those polled supported the concept of photo enforcement in 1996. The number jumped to 80 percent support by 2007.