FREEP THIS RED-LIGHT CAMERA POLL

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The City of Beaverton needs your help! The Mayor's Office is attempting to gather data for an upcoming hearing before the House Transportation Committee regarding Photo Red Light in Beaverton. The Mayor would like the opportunity to be able to share your views with the state legislators. If you could respond to the following survey by Friday, June 28th, it would be very helpful. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Please type an "X" by the answer that best represents your views.

1. Are you aware of the City's Red Light Enforcement Program?

____ Yes

____ No

2. Compared to a year ago, would you say the number of drivers not stopping for red lights has increased, decreased or stayed about the same in Beaverton?

_____ Increased

_____ Decreased

_____ Stayed about the same

3. A law allows the City of Beaverton and five other Oregon cities to operate a Red Light Enforcement Project where a camera will take a photograph of a vehicle if it goes through a red light. The owner of the vehicle would then be sent a traffic citation in the mail. Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this law?

____ Strongly favor

____ Somewhat favor

____ Somewhat oppose

____ Strongly oppose

4. Recently, a state legislator from Hillsboro disagreed with the City of Beaverton's use of the Red Light program. who should interpret the law?

____ The state legislator

____ City officials

____ Judge who hears Red Light violation cases

5. Should Beaverton have

____ More than the current 5 Red Light intersections?

____ Fewer Red Light intersections?

____ The same number we have today (5)?

____ No Red Light cameras?

6. Is red light running a significant safety issue in Beaverton?

____ Yes, very significant

____ Yes, somewhat significant

____ No, rarely happens

____ No, not at all

Holly Thompson
Administrative Analyst
PO Box 4755
Beaverton, OR 97076-4755
Phone: 503.526.2658
Fax: 503.526.2479
Email: hthompson@ci.beaverton.or.us
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Here's my own letter to the city:

I'm absolutely furious over a questionnaire that was e-mailed to be from the city and also circulated at the Taste of Beaverton. My main point of contention is over question #4:

4. Recently, a state legislator from Hillsboro disagreed with the City of Beaverton's use of the Red Light program. who should interpret the law?

____ The state legislator

____ City officials

____ Judge who hears Red Light violation cases

Do you mean you are going to base city law upon a questionnaire? Or are you giving an quiz to see how well the citizens know law? Who cares? I think this is a hit piece. Rep. Bruce Starr has been very critical of the red light camera program so you have decided to take a shot back at him. This is at my expense and the expense of every other tax payer in the city.

I think for those who know me, they already know what I'm going to do with this information. But I think the city deserves it for their attitude in regards to the red light program. I was also furious from the quote from Linda in the Oregonian not letting the reporter talk to any employees or the judges. "I'm not going to give you permission," she said. "Generally speaking, our judges say they don't talk to the press." What ever happened to sunshine laws? I'm also blown away with the knowledge that the city think as long as all five cameras do not flash at the same time, it would not violate the law that limits cities to four operating cameras. If you believe that, than why didn't you set up twenty cameras around town. The chance of five of the twenty operating at the same millisecond would have to be very small.

Here are some sample questions I think should have been on the form:

1. Currently the time the yellow light is on is set at the minimum level allowed by law. Do you think lengthening the time the yellow light is on will make intersections safer? Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?

2. In the city of Beaverton as soon as one light turns red the opposing light turns green. The city can program the lights so that the intersection is all red for a fraction of a second. This would allow any red light runner to be less likely to collide with a car starting at a fresh green light. This would add a fraction of a second to your travel time. Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?

3. If somebody violates a red light at an intersection that has a red light camera, the city uses DMV records to match the owner of the vehicle with the driver and issue a ticket. If the gender of the driver is not the same as the gender of the owner, the city throws the ticket away never letting the owner of the vehicle know that someone is placing their property at risk of an accident and or a lawsuit. Even though the city can not issue a ticket to this person, the owner of the vehicle never is notified that the person driving their vehicle is violating the law. Do you think the city should notify the owner of the car that it was being used to violate the law? Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this?

I would like to know when the state will be taking testimony in regards to the red light camera program. I would like to be allowed to testify in opposition. I was almost killed by another driver on April 15, 1983 at an intersection in Beaverton and live in constant pain ever since, so I know the importance of obeying the law. But I think the city is only looking at the red light camera with the revenue glasses and disregards other measures that it can do to improve driver safety.

Thanks,

My State Senator, Gary George (whom I love dearly) pointed out that the City of Beaverfornia (and anyone who's been there, knows why I call it that) is spending $75K a year per camera to operate the photo red light cameras.

For that amount, they could HIRE A COP and STATION him/her/it at the red light site, full-time.

But one of my lawyer friends informs me that the City of Beaverfornia is *the wealthiest* incorporated city in the State, and have money *to burn* on Nazi police-state tactics like red-light cameras, photo radar, crosswalk "stings", etc. etc. ad nauseum.

What Beaverfornians need to do, is cut off the funding. But they're too busy driving their Lexes (plural of Lexus) from one cocaine soiree to another, to pay attention to anything so irritating as "politics"...

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