Houston Cameras to Receive Stay of Execution?

As TTAC readers know, the city of Houston kicked its red-light cameras to the curb in Tuesday’s election. Another city, Baytown, voted in a clever ordinance that requires the physical presence of a police officer at any intersection where red-light ticketing is taking place. The voters have spoken… but the municipalities in question may not listen. At least not yet.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Houston’s contract with camera supplier ATS requires 120 days’ notice before turning the cameras off. Paul Kubosh, the attorney who pushed for the new legislation, stated that

…City Council members who vote against immediately canceling the contract would be signing their “political death warrants“ and would face the ire of thousands of residents who receive tickets during the 120-day termination phase. He said if the termination clause in the existing contract is too expensive for the city to violate, those who made the bargain should be fired.

Meanwhile, neighboring Baytown is trying to determine if it can afford to station a police officer at all seven of its intersections with red-light cameras, as required by newly approved legislation. Don’t look for that to actually happen.

Perhaps the most chilling statements came from a company and an elected official who seem to be simply unaware of how the legislative process works in this country:

“Now that the voters of Houston have spoken we have reached out to city officials for their guidance on the steps ahead,“ the ATS statement read.

Houston police Chief Charles McClelland, a supporter of red-light cameras, said it is premature to comment on the demise of Houston’s system. “Once we’ve reached some conclusions, I’ll discuss those outcomes,“ McClelland said.

Perhaps Chief McClelland’s next statement will be something along the lines of cake-consumption recommendation?