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Officials OK contract with red light camera company

By Brad Hicks
Press Staff Writer
bhicks@johnsoncitypress.com

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Johnson City Police Chief John Lowry said he’s an advocate of red light cameras, and apparently the members of the Johnson City Commission feel the same.

At Thursday’s regular meeting, the commission unanimously approved the acceptance of contract between the city of Johnson City and Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., a company specializing in the red light camera technology.

In October, the commission deferred selection of a vendor for the cameras until contracts could be further reviewed. Last year, the commission gave approval to proceed with implementation of the cameras. Lowry said bringing the cameras to the city has been a process years in the making and is much needed, as a recent test at a busy intersection showed 800 red light violations within a 24 hour span.

Lowry said Redflex was being recommended because of the company’s technology, service and having systems set up in other nearby locales, including Kingsport and Jonesborough. With the vendor now selected, Lowry said he would like to see cameras implemented as soon as possible, but it will be done on an intersection-by-intersection basis. Officials are hopeful that the first camera will go up within the next 30 days, Lowry said, and there will be a 30 day grace period at each intersection when they are installed.

Each intersection will have signage indicating that cameras are in use, Lowry said. He also said a stop bar will be at each intersections at which there are cameras, and violations occur when a driver’s front tires cross that bar and the signal light is red. He said the cameras will have no effect on the Tennessee state law for turning right on a red light which states that drivers must stop before doing so. He also said the traffic signal time in the city, which averages around 90 seconds, will not be shortened.

Violators will be sent three photos showing their violation — one before entering the intersection, one while in the intersection, and one after passing through it. Lowry also said offenders will be given access to review videos of the violations online.

Vice Mayor Jeff Banyas said he appreciates the argument hat the cameras violate privacy but said the safety of Johnson City residents is the top priority. Lowry said those not wishing to take part in the traffic light program will just have to stop at traffic lights.

The Johnson City Commission also approved a motion at Thursday’s meeting allowing Washington County/Johnson City Animal Shelter Director Debbie Dobbs to further pursue seeking legal advice on a proposed spay/neuter ordinance and work in conjunction with Washington County on the ordinance.

In the 2008-09 fiscal year, Dobbs said nearly 8,700 animals were brought into the shelter. Of those, around 3,200 were adopted while more than 4,700 were euthanized.

“Euthanizing means ‘peaceful death,’ it does not mean ‘population control,’” Dobbs said. “It is a very serious thing when you have to fill a landfill with animals like this that deserve homes, that deserve not to born if they’re not wanted.”

While Dobbs said the ordinance could be critiqued to fit the Johnson City and Washington County communities, the basic draft, which is based off a similar ordinance in Buncombe County, N.C., would be require any person owning a dog or cat more than 6 months of age to have the animal spayed or neutered or pay for a permit allowing them to keep the animal unaltered. Dobbs said the cost of this permit has not yet been determined.

Similar to the state’s rabies law, Dobbs said “door-to-door” checks will not be conducted to make sure residents are in compliance. Instead, offenders of other animal control laws will be cited if not in compliance.

“So we’re not targeting responsible pet owners or someone who has their animals spayed or neutered or keeps their animals at home, that doesn’t let them run at large or doesn’t let them breed indiscriminately,” Dobbs said. “We are targeting the offenders of animal control laws and the offenders that make our city and county not safe.”

According to the proposed draft, those found in violation would be given a 30-day voucher to have their animal spayed or neutered or will be required to pay for the unaltered animal permit. Funds generated from the ordinance would be placed into a low-cost spay/neuter program, Dobbs said.

The motion passed with four commissioners voting in favor. Prior to the vote, Commissioner Phil Carriger voiced concerns that the ordinance would not be effective without bringing the county onboard. Commissioner Steve Darden abstained from voting. Johnson City Manager Pete Peterson said County Attorney John Rambo would be asked to assist in reviewing the proposed ordinance.

In other business, the commission approved the third reading of an ordinance to convey the city-owned property on which the Washington County Health Department sits to Washington County.