Spokane7
65°
July 20, 2011
Critics renew red-light camera fight in Wenatchee
WENATCHEE, Wash. — Critics of red-light cameras in Wenatchee are back with another effort to get on the November ballot.
Initiative activist Tim Eyman today launched a petition drive to put an advisory measure on the November general ballot to ask the city of Wenatchee to get rid of cameras at the three intersections they now monitor.
Eyman said the petition needs 2,273 signatures to get on the ballot. If the measure is approved by a majority of voters, a similar advisory vote would be placed on all subsequent ballots — in February, April, August and November — each year until the city takes them down, Eyman said.
“We’re telling the city that we can’t require you to take them down but we can certainly badger you with the voters’ desires,” he said. “Having a bombardment of advisory votes is an effective way to get them to see the light.”
Eyman initiated an effort in Wenatchee in January, trying to collect signatures to get a measure on the November ballot to force the city to get rid of the cameras. City officials responded by suing in Chelan County Superior Court to stop the effort.
Judge John Bridges ruled in May that the signature effort was unlawful and prohibited the group from turning the signatures in to the auditor.
While that first effort sought to give voters the right to get rid of the cameras, this second attempt would simply advise the City Council that voters don’t want the cameras, Eyman said.
“We’re coming back and saying, ‘OK, we’re going to have advisory votes on steroids until you listen,’ ” he said.
Eyman had led efforts to get rid of the red-light cameras in Mukilteo, Bellingham, Monroe, Longview and Redmond. Mukilteo took down its cameras after voters approved an advisory measure. Advisory votes will be on the November ballot in Bellingham, Monroe and Longview. Eyman said signatures are still being collected in Redmond.
“Clearly we believe that the majority of citizens in Washington reject these obnoxious automatic ticketing cameras,” he said.
Spin Control: Film industry tax breaks fine, but tie them to reviews 
thencameme on July 20 at 2:48 p.m.
Don’t run the lights and this will not be a problem. It is like speeding. If you don’t drive 50 in a 25 it should not be an issue. The only people that would be helped by removing the cameras are the people that are putting the rest of us in danger when they run the lights because there are no cops around.
force_vector on July 20 at 4:36 p.m.
“It is like speeding. If you don’t drive 50 in a 25 it should not be an issue.”
Wrong. It has been shown in numerous municipalities, including Seattle, that the length of time the light stays yellow is lessened when cameras are added. Have you ever seen the speed limit change because a cop is hiding to clock your speed? Furthermore, I have had to spend many hours near intersections with red light cameras. I can tell you that they are more unsafe than any other. You wouldn’t believe the stupid things people do because they fear getting the dreaded camera flash…even when the light is still green. Just like people on the freeway who slow to 45 mph in the fast lane because they see a cop clocking motorists. These things are a safety hazard and a revenue generation tool, and nothing more.
Dazzeetrader11 on July 20 at 5:48 p.m.
The companies and the city have a vested interest so they collect more. This, plus the mechanical aspects of administering the prgrams are good reasons why these programs should be removed. Bad idea from the beginning. Just hiding behind usualy rules to hit the public up for more money. Get rid of these programs.
They have yet to show the cams provided any safety. Not has there been any efficacy in reductions of wrecks. It’s baout public money being heisted.
Rid us of this or it goes to a class action suit OR simply vote the people out who put this garbage in place.