( unreasonable Speed limit )
The Puerto Rico government is facing a backlash as it rolls out a $6 million camera-based system to ticket drivers for traffic violations.
The electronic monitoring system for intersections and transit (known as Simone by its Spanish acronym) is being rolled out by the Transportation & Public Works Department (DTOP) as a pilot project this week at three intersections in the San Juan metropolitan area: Dos Hermanos Bridge in Condado; Piñero Avenue and Escorial Avenue in Puerto Nuevo; and PR-177 and Los Filtros Avenue in Guaynabo.
The surveillance cameras can flag drivers for speeding, running red lights or lacking a valid registration sticker. The images are sent back to a command center and tickets are issued to vehicle owners via the mail.
Plans call for 47 other high-risk intersections in the San Juan and Bayamón areas to be added to the program over the next six months.
The system is being operated by a private company, International Traffic System, under a five-year $1 annual contract with DTOP’s Highways & Transportation Authority, which owns the equipment.
For now, the system’s reach is limited: The Condado site will be monitoring for registration stickers; the Piñero site will gauge speeding in one lane; and the PR-177 site will aim for motorists that run red lights.
Gov. Alejandro García Padilla and DTOP Secretary Miguel Torres Díaz say Simone will make roadways safer by making drivers pay more attention to the rules of the road.
“This system will serve as a deterrent to reckless drivers,” García Padilla said. “Its greatest benefit is that it will discourage behaviors that cause tragedies to drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.”
The government is facing some backlash over the system, with critics citing privacy issues and the contract with a private company to ticket vehicle owners for Law 22 traffic violations.
Other critics say the system is geared primarily at generating revenue for the cash-strapped HTA, a public corporation that is dragging around billions in debt. There are also complaints that a 15 mph speed limit for at least one intersection is far too low and will disrupt traffic flow.
Social media has been peppered with criticism of Simone, with some people posting tips on how to beat the system and get out of traffic tickets.
The Simone deal was not put up for public bid. While the governor has touted the “fiscal responsibility” of the $1 contract with International Traffic System, the deal guarantees the company 45 percent of ticket values issued in the first year, leaving 55 percent for the cash-strapped HTA.
The contract then scales up in the HTA’s favor over the final four years of the accord: HTA will get 60 percent in the second year, 65 percent in the third and fourth; and 70 percent in the fifth.
Tickets range from: $250 for an expired registration sticker; $250 for running a red light; and $50 for speeding (plus $5 for each additional mile per hour over the speed limit); and $100 for speeding in a school zone (plus $5 for each additional mile per hour over the speed limit).
International Traffic System has contracted a retired captain from the Puerto Rico Police Department to green-light the tickets based on the photo and video images.
Torres Díaz said images of drivers will not be used “at any time.”
The DTOP chief rejected claims that the system is primarily aimed at boosting revenues.
“We are convinced that this system is the best way to continue reducing roadway deaths,” he said.
La Fortaleza said traffic accidents left 344 people dead and nearly 32,000 injured in Puerto Rico last year.
Torres Díaz noted that unsafe roads also put federal funds at risk, indicating that some $30 million is in jeopardy.
The HTA has 90 days to send out tickets by mail buy is aiming to keep it within 15 days.
Still, Simone’s introduction follows in the wake of other measures to boost ticketing revenues for the government.
All drivers with AutoExpreso accounts are now being required to register them with the government under a new regulation.
A new law enacted in August calls for the Puerto Rico Police Department to ramp up its traffic ticket operations to help pay for a far-reaching reform that is expected to take at least 10 years and $200 million.
The law funnels 20 percent of traffic ticket revenues above a $29 million annual average (excluding AutoExpreso fines) to a fund established for efforts to professionalize the Police Department. The law directs DTOP and the Police Department to improve the system of processing traffic tickets.
Reply With Quote
Connect With Us