CS Red Light Cameras Voted Out

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Updated: 9:02 AM Nov 4, 2009 CS Red Light Cameras Voted Out The proposition to do away with red light cameras in College Station passed by a margin of 52-48 percent. Posted: 7:31 PM Nov 3, 2009 Reporter: KBTX Staff Email Address: news@kbtx.com

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For Jim Ash, a year-long public battle over College Station's red light cameras paid off Tuesday.

College Station residents voted the cameras down by just 272 votes.

A total of 7,882 College Station residents voted. 4,077 ballots were cast to ban the cameras, with 3,805 people voting to keep the cameras.

It was fall of 2008 when Jim Ash received his received his red light camera citation and began trying to fight it. This summer he set up a tent along University Drive and solicited signatures to get cameras on the ballot.

Tuesday, Ash, his supporters and the tent were back up along University Drive as they waited for results then celebrated their victory.

Ash said the verdict both empowers College Station residents, and proves the College Station City Council made a mistake

"Unfortunately it took us thousands of dollars and months and months of convincing, but they just made a mistake. They're not bad people. They have a lot of decisions to make and in this case I think they just got it wrong," said Ash.

Emily Reiter, the secretary for the political action committee working to keep the cameras, Keep College Station Safe, said the vote proves thousands of residents want the cameras to stay up.

"We're gonna continue to monitor the results of this and we just, we're very disappointed but we really, sincerely hope that more families aren't caused injury, that more lives aren't lost as a result of this election," said Reiter.

For now, the cameras are still up.

College Station's Director of Public Communication, Jay Socol, said the city council will have between eight and 11 days, or between November 11 and 14 to canvas the results.

According to Socol, the following day, the cameras would be turned off and the signs would be removed.

In the days and weeks to follow, American Traffic Solutions would come to College Station to remove the equipment and complete any repairs necessary from the removal.

Anyone receiving a red light camera citation, even between election day and November 11, must still pay the fine.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Angela Location: Bryan on Dec 23, 2009 at 12:40 AM

I can't even believe the way people in this area drive like is everyone high or just stupid!!!! Taking out red light cameras are the worst thing these two towns could have ever done to it's citizen. I live near Houston and I thought those people were stupid drivers at least they are smart enough to stop at a yellow light unlike most of the people here, Oh yeah and the on ramps to highway 6, I guess people didn't learn your suppose to get up to speed with the traffic that's on the highway not go slow as turtles!!! This city does not have a equal balance!!! There is a major wreak almost everyday don't you fear for your life? I have never felt more of a need to put my husband and I on some kinda life insurance plan, till I relocated to this town!!! Hope this get better at some point of my stay here.....

Posted by: Annie Location: Bryan on Nov 7, 2009 at 03:18 AM

Look at the big picture folks. There are over 200 comments about red light cameras,whether they work or not,there wouldn't be red light cameras if you drive correctly. Do you know what right on red means? Next time you drive into town, do you follow the rules of the road? Are you a safe driver? How close are you to the car stopped in front of you? Do you know how far you are suppose to look ahead? Do you wait until the last minute to apply your brakes? Do you know which lane you are suppose to turn into when you make a right or left hand turn? Do you communicate with other drivers - turn signals, horn, brake lights? Do you know how to use your reference points? If you were randomly picked to take a state driving test, do you think you would pass? Refresh your driving skills people, longer yellow lights are not the solution. Obey the laws, think about what you are doing. SLOW DOWN!!! Life is short enough as it is.

Posted by: To a woman's point of view Location: College Station on Nov 6, 2009 at 01:23 PM

I heartily suggest the residents of College Station, Bryan, and Brazos County ask for a complete financial investigation and overhaul of the systems.A SPECIAL AUDIT done by an outside entity- not the paper audit done so frequently. Ask questions concerning the TRUE indebtedness of the cities and counties. Don't accept the "this is the audited financial" story. There is much more going on-and you don't have to be a financial genius to see a huge problem developing. its our tax dollars being wasted.

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