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<br />Cities questioning future of red-light cameras - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com <br /> <br />Page 2 of 4 <br /> <br />camera, online since January, has only issued about one ticket every three <br />months. Another has issued about three tickets a month. A third is issuing 19 <br />per month. <br /> <br />Hollywood spokeswoman Raelin Storey said that the city's cameras have <br />made about $250,000 before court costs, legal fees and staff time - which <br />haven't been added up yet - get subtracted for the seven-month-old program. <br /> <br />Hallandale Beach's contract with American Traffic Solutions, which holds <br />most of South Florida's camera contracts, is set up so that the company <br />absorbs operating losses. So far this year the company seems to be heading <br />toward taking a loss because of it, said City Manager Mark Antonio. The city <br />pays its court and personnel costs, though, so it's taking a loss, too. The city <br />isn't tracking how much, Antonio said. <br /> <br />West Palm Beach hasn't calculated how much its program has made or lost, <br />said Assistant Chief of Police Dennis Crispo. The city never intended to make <br />money; all potential revenue would by law only be available to spend on more <br />traffic safety equipment or operations, he said. <br /> <br />The losses are largely caused by the court costs, said A TS spokesman Charles <br />Territo. <br /> <br />Fort Lauderdale might eliminate its program because of its cost, said Fort <br />Lauderdale spokesman Matt Little. <br /> <br />"Everything is on the table," he said. "We're not sure what the future is for red <br />light cameras." <br /> <br />Pembroke Pines Commissioner Iris Siple insists the program is about safety. <br />But she's not sure it's worth the cost. <br /> <br />"There's a good possibility it's more trouble than it's worth," she said. "Don't <br />get me wrong. If it stopped even one red light runner, and an accident that <br />would have hurt someone, it's worth whatever we paid for it. It's always been <br />about safety. But, I just don't know if this is the only way to accomplish <br />safety. " <br /> <br />http://www.sun-sentinel.comlnews/locallfl-ats-red-light-cameras-deal-20ll 0706,0,517510... 7/13/2011 <br />