Council Bite

So folks want to know where the money goes? "Councilman Chris Roberts of Jefferson Parish is putting in a request to disband a number of redflex cameras at various intersections after it was revealed that some are profiting from redflex redlight ticket revenues (say that ten times fast!) WSDU investigative reporter Travers Mackel is credited for having blown the lid on the transactions".//.In what looks to be a major scandal brewing, former Paradise Valley Police Chief John Wintersteen has denied to the Associated Press that he was paid by Redflex and Scottsdale’s ATS to file a petition on their behalf. The petition, which shows Wintersteen as the filer, would change Arizona law to subvert due process in favor of the scamera companies. It would eliminate the service of process requirement for photo radar and red light camera tickets.//

Knoxville News Sentinel Co."After 30 years with the Knoxville Police Department, 52-year-old Bill Roehl has opted for retirement, creating a vacancy in the post of deputy chief over the patrol division.Roehl leaves the Knoxville Police Department for a new full-time job with Redflex Traffic Systems///THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH "A Columbus City Council member whose committees oversee legislation dealing with road construction, red-light cameras and environmental issues borrowed money from a lobbyist whose clients are interested in the same topics" "refused to disclose the amount of the loan ". Akron Becon Journal--"City Council president criticizes William Healy II for contracts involving campaign contributors" "Schulman pointed to two contributions of $125 each on July 8 from individuals associated with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. of Phoenix" By Gerry Smith Chicago Tribune Reporter July 15, 2009 After Carol Stream Police Chief Rick Willing recommended his town hire Redflex Traffic Systems, village officials approved a contract with the Arizona-based red-light camera vendor in December 2007. Less than a year later, Willing retired from the force and began working for Redflex.

Arizona// Money from each photo enforcement ticket breaks down as follows: $16.50 to statewide public campaign financing, $13.48 to the Department of Public Safety, $25.17 to the Supreme Court of Arizona’s Administrative Office of the Courts, $29.70 to Redflex (the private photo enforcement company) and $96.65 to the State of Arizona’s general fund". [link] , Arizona "a ten percent surcharge was imposed on all traffic tickets to create the "Citizens Clean Election Fund." The fund allows politicians to avoid tedious fundraising efforts.

After raising just $5 each from 220 people in a district, candidates for public office qualify for public financing money to match private expenditures. In effect, these lawmakers collect $16.50 for their campaigns each time a photo radar ticket is issued on an Arizona freeway.

This adds up to big money. In 2008, traffic tickets generated $10,095,771 in revenue for the clean elections fund. Out of this amount, $7,710,739 million was disbursed to lawmakers and candidates during the primary and general elections -- an average of $72,063 each.