Missouri DWI Information & News Blog

St. Ann, MO

St. Louis speeders are about to become unwitting film stars.

The region's first speed camera is monitoring a St. Ann school zone, and at least one other St. Louis County municipality is preparing to use cameras to catch speeders, too.

St. Ann won't begin issuing speeding tickets using its Ashby Road camera until Feb. 1, but the camera has already drawn some critics at a time when those seemingly ubiquitous red light cameras already had drivers feeling overexposed.

Critics say it's more about money than safety.

While new to Missouri, speed cameras have been deployed in several other states — with varying results. This month, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested retrofitting red light cameras with speed sensors to nab speeders — and generate millions of dollars for the cash-strapped state.

But St. Ann Police Chief Bob Schrader said the pole-mounted camera in front of Hoech Middle School wasn't about generating money. It's about the safety of schoolkids.

"It's unfortunate that the only way to change driver behavior is to fine them," Schrader said. "But I have known people who could care less about the points. They don't want to pay a big fine. That tells me that if you hit them for $100 in their pocketbook, they're going to think about it."

He said red light cameras in his city had reduced violations at those intersections. St. Ann has a contract with American Traffic Solutions for those cameras.

A portable version of the speed camera has been stationed in front of the school to record the speed of passing motorists. On Friday, St. Ann began sending out the first batch of warning letters to 58 motorists caught so far by the camera.

Schrader said the camera didn't use radar or laser to record speeds. Instead, the

system uses video footage to calculate how quickly a car covers a certain distance. The camera will cover all four lanes of traffic in front of the middle school.

B&W Sensors LLC, the St. Louis-area company that was awarded the contract, provided only written information about its photo enforcement system.

"The system automatically detects, photographs and identifies those greatly exceeding the posted speed limit, and the police department completes a violation notice to the registered owners of those vehicles by mail," B&W said in a prepared statement.

Schrader said St. Ann police would review the information provided by B&W before the $100 tickets are mailed to motorists. Unlike a typical speeding ticket, those generated by photo enforcement won't result in any points against a motorist's driving record, Schrader said.

"It's a lot like a parking ticket," he said. "If it's the vehicle, you know, basically you're held responsible for who you let drive the vehicle."

The speed enforcement system was authorized by ordinance in November. State law neither allows nor prohibits the use of such a system, Schrader said. St. Ann will receive $60 from each ticket.

"They say this isn't about the money," said attorney Chet Pleban. "But when you put it under the microscope, what you find is if a police officer catches you going through a red light or in this case catches you speeding in a school zone, and you plead guilty to that, you are assessed two points on your license.

"If a camera catches you doing the same act, you plead guilty and pay $100 and no points are assessed. Why is it both these people don't get the same points?"

Pleban filed an unsuccessful federal challenge to Arnold's red light cameras.

Schrader said the cameras would free up police officers to patrol neighborhoods. But he doesn't see it taking anyone's job, Schrader said. There's still plenty for his 38 sworn officers to do.

St. Ann police officers aren't unionized, he said. St. Louis police Sgt. Kevin Ahlbrand, president of the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, said it had no opinion on camera enforcement.

"Cameras never complain. They never get sick," Schrader said. "They may break. And we have to have B&W come out and fix it. But that's the only problem."

The camera will capture an image of the car and license plate but not of the driver.

Missouri state Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, said the absence of a driver's photograph raised constitutional questions about due process. Lembke, too, is troubled by how the tickets are handled.

"My understanding is they are using the same kind of ordinance to treat it like a parking ticket," said Lembke, who has introduced legislation taking on red light cameras. "It is a moving violation. They are speeding down the road. It is not a parking ticket. People should be upset that it is being finessed so they are allowed to issue these tickets."

In Arizona, where the state Department of Public Safety rolled out photo speed limit enforcement on major highways in October 2008, the cameras provide images of the front and rear of each car. Images of the front of the car are used to identify the driver. The second shot captures the license plate, said Lt. Jeff King of the Department of Public Safety.

In its first year, more than 890,000 violations were recorded of motorists traveling 11 mph or more above the speed limit — the threshold speed, according to a new audit of the program.

The photo enforcement program generated roughly $37 million in its first year — far less revenue than the $90 million projected, the audit found.

Many photos had to be rejected because the license plate, driver or vehicle couldn't be seen clearly. There also are fewer cameras than originally proposed. And motorists know to slow down in enforcement zones.

The audit found that many simply ignored the tickets.

Nationally, 12 states specifically authorize speed cameras, and most of those are in conjunction with red light cameras, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Illinois uses photo speed enforcement in construction zones when workers are present.

Charlack, a city of 1,431, also is considering speed cameras, said Mayor Jim Beekman. About a month ago, the city took a one-hour survey of speeds on Interstate 170 and found that 117 vehicles traveled 15 mph or more above the posted 60 mph speed limit.

"We're evaluating it," Beekman said. "One of the biggest reasons we were concerned with it is officer safety. Our police car has to go full bore to catch the speeder, and weaving in and out of traffic is ... counterproductive."

The cameras are being considered for Lackland Road and Midland Boulevard.

The Missouri Department of Transportation would have to authorize the use of photo enforcement equipment on I-170 or any other highway, said MoDOT traffic engineer Mike Curtit.

Meanwhile Schrader wouldn't say how fast motorists would have to travel before they're given a ticket, but it would have to be in excess of the 20 mph daytime limit or 30 mph at night — and not just a smidge over, either.

He said signs would be posted warning people of the photo enforcement.

"You know, people are people, and people make mistakes," Schrader said. "Little mistakes I can live with. But flagrant mistakes I can't."