Tulsa leaders want intersections to have cameras

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Tulsa leaders want the green light from the state Legislature to install video cameras at intersections to catch motorists who run red lights. <br><br>The proposal was presented Tuesday

Wednesday, December 13th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Tulsa leaders want the green light from the state Legislature to install video cameras at intersections to catch motorists who run red lights.

The proposal was presented Tuesday at the Tulsa Police Training Center to a group of police officers, city council members, county commissioners and state representatives.

State law would have to be amended to allow cities to issue traffic tickets to vehicle owners captured on film, said Mayor Susan Savage.

The proposed system uses a computer-driven camera mounted on a 12-foot pole, said Thomas Hodgkins of Lockheed Martin. He said when motorists try to beat the light, the camera snaps two photographs _ one of the car going through the intersection and another of the license tag.

Cameras would be placed at select intersections across the city.

Lockheed Martin, or a similar company, would administer the program and issue citations through the mail to the registered owner of the violating vehicle. Violators would pay a $70 fine, about the same fine motorists would pay if they were ticketed by an officer.

Tickets issued through the program would not be issued as criminal traffic offenses. Instead they would be counted as civil offenses and would not assess any penalty points against drivers.

Tulsa Police Chief Ron Palmer said there were 79,120 traffic-related collisions in Oklahoma in 1999. Of those, 859 were caused when motorists ran red lights, resulting in 327 injuries and five fatalities.

In Tulsa, Palmer said there were 13,160 collisions, 4,672 injuries and 36 deaths. He said 8 percent of traffic fatalities in Tulsa can be attributed to red light violations.

Palmer said Tulsa could expect a 40 percent reduction in red light-related accidents if the cameras are used.

Oklahoma will be the 12th state to use the camera technology at stop lights if Tulsa implements the system. Tulsa would be the first city in Oklahoma to use the camera system.