Feb 6, 2008 Toledo Blade story :
The flash from an automated red-light and speeding camera in Toledo could cost motorists $120, up from the current $95, if city council approves the increase. The city's share of the fines would increase from 25 percent to 55 percent. Council on Nov. 13 approved a five-year agreement with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., of Culver City, Calif., to operate red-light and speed enforcement cameras.
Police Chief Mike Navarre at the time said the new terms were expected to increase the city's revenue from the camera enforcement from about $500,000 a year under the current contract to about $2.5 million a year. Finance Director John Sherburne yesterday said the cameras generated $606,025 in 2007.
Councilman Tom Waniewski asked if the Finkbeiner administration would consider installing flashing yellow lights in advance of red lights to warn motorists. "I'm concerned that a lot of times now, particularly now with increased air patrol, which is intended to be a revenue generator, that we're becoming a gotcha city," Mr. Waniewski said.
"No one likes to raise fees but, quite frankly, we are trying to balance the budget," Mr. Sobczak said. "It's not out of the range of acceptable fees, and the administration is counting on increased fees to help balance the budget."That last paragraph is indicative of a city in a desperate state. Rather than decreasing taxes, Toledo increases taxes. Toledo's population continues to decline every year while the U.S. population increases.
Who was dumb enough to believe a year ago that the new city tax, code-named refuse collection fee, would be a one-year wonder? I don't believe it will remain at $5.50. I think the new city tax/garbage fee will increase. The amount of increase will depend upon how the 25-year old temporary 3/4% tax levy fares on March 4, 2008.
$4.8 million from a "trash fee." The money does not go exclusively to refuse collection, which is why it's not a trash fee but simply a general city tax.
Toledo Camera Locations
Source: Toledo police
Red-light Cameras
- East and west on Hill at Byrne
- East and west on Alexis at Lewis
- West on Alexis at North Detroit
- East on Airport and north on Reynolds
- North on Front and east on Main
- East and west on Dorr at Secor
- East on Monroe and north on Secor
- North on Secor at Laskey
- North on Reynolds at Heatherdowns
- East on South and north on Anthony Wayne Trail
- South on Summit and east on Cherry
- West on Alexis at Jackman
- South on Anthony Wayne Trail at Western
- South on Talmadge at Sylvania
- North on Douglas at University Hills
- West on Laskey at Douglas
- West on Heatherdowns at Cass
- West on Laskey at Lewis
Fixed-speed cameras
- Westbound on Alexis at Jackman
- Southbound on Anthony Wayne Trail at Western
- Northbound on Anthony Wayne Trail at South
- Southbound on Talmadge at Sylvania
- Northbound on Reynolds at Heatherdowns
- Eastbound on Main at Front
- Northbound on Douglas at University Hills
Real simple. slow down, dont get tickets and bankrupt the city. Only the magnificently stupid would count on traffic tickets as part of their budget. I know your gonna get some tickets regardless but counting on them as part of your budget is just stupid and irresponsible.
posted by Linecrosser on Feb 18, 2008 at 06:39:42 pm #