Cities throughout the nation are rethinking their position on keeping traffic enforcement cameras as a traffic control tool.
But not in Culver City.
The council voted on May 12 to continue its association with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. by awarding the traffic control firm a three-year contract. Previously, the company had a seven-year contract with the city.
The three-year contract was approved despite an abundance of legal trouble that has plagued Redflex over the last few years.
The red light camera enforcement company is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for allegedly providing bribes to municipal officials.
Federal authorities have accused Redflex executives of paying thousands of dollars in trips taken by a Chicago transportation official who was in charge of overseeing the Windy City’s red light camera program. The probe claims that Redflex also paid for golfing outings, meals and hotel accommodations to the transportation official.
Redflex also is accused of giving a consultant more than $2 million who then was supposed to give additional funds to Chicago transportation authorities. The Chicago officials charged with running the red light camera program, John Bills, was arrested on May 14 for receiving bribes from Redflex.
Last year, the Phoenix-based company fired its California–based executive vice president, Aaron Rosenberg. Three other top officials subsequently resigned in the wake of the federal investigation.
A former Redflex employee is cooperating with law enforcement in the federal investigation.
Rosenberg has since claimed that the company has made him a scapegoat in the corruption probe and the scandal reaches at least 13 states, including California.
Redflex has an office in Culver City, but no one from the local office has been implicated in the alleged bribery scandal.
City Councilman Jim Clarke said that he had no reservations about approving another contract with Redflex. Last year, after Clarke learned about the federal probe of Redflex when the News informed him about it, he said he would inquire about the contract with City Attorney Carol Schwab.
“Clearly, this is something that we need to take a serious look at,” the councilman said.
Robert Zirgulis is livid about the new contract.
“I think it is despicable. The city council should be ashamed for dealing with such a scandal ridden company such as Redflex,” Zirgulis said. “The public has a right to know that the city council members are insensitive to the plight of poor people who can’t pay these exorbitant fines that line the pockets of a corrupt company that has a record of bribing $2 million to government officials in Chicago alone not to mention thirteen other states.
“For our city council to do business with such a company with such a sordid pass unconscionable.
Zirgulis has been the city’s most outspoken critic of red light cameras for years. He made them the singular focus of his unsuccessful 2010 city council campaign and has continued criticizing the company, as well as the council, at every opportunity.
Rehiring the embattled traffic enforcement company might be simply a matter of dollars and cents. According to a staff report, Redflex charges approximately $694,000 per year while another company, American Traffic Solutions, Inc., charges $734,400 a year and Xerox State & Local Solutions Inc. $777,816.
“Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. was found to offer the most cost-effect solution,” a city staff report stated. “Since the inception of the automated enforcement program, Culver City, like other Westside cities, has experienced rapid and significant increases in the number of vehicles that travel city streets. The resulting traffic volume induce congestion has highlighted the ongoing need to maintain efforts to help avert collisions resulting in red light violators.”
The staff report also cited the company’s qualifications and experience and service.
According to the Culver City Police Department, Culver City reported 36,048 red light violations that were processed.
Red light cameras in Culver City remain a source of controversy, largely due to the relatively high citation amounts, which can reach up to nearly $500. There are 20 red light enforcement cameras in operation throughout the city, according to the Culver City police.
Nearly 30 California cities have decided in recent years to drop their red light camera enforcement programs, including Los Angeles.
Beverly Hills and Santa Clarita recently stated that they will continue with their programs.
Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire and West Virginia prohibit the use of red light cameras.