Texas Red Light Cameras - City of College Station violates the law and tries to hide

[Steve]

The evidence is clear, while using the guise of safety, many cities in the state of Texas support the continued use of Red Light Cameras simply for the sake of revenue streams.

The Deputy City Manager for Plano, Texas, Bruce Glasscock, had this to say about a law that would change up some of the Red Light Camera laws.


from Jim Ash's website - CivilViolation.com
http://www.civilviolation.com/Current_Actions.php

.... Bruce D. Glasscock outlines below the basis for the his opposition to HB-3558, you will notice that the theme here is protection of the revenue stream. But at the same time they want us to believe that it is a "safety" program. This is what happens with the government contracts with a profit driven company to control the citizens.

http://www.gmtruckclub.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2884&stc=1&d=1244134039
email from http://www.civilviolation.com/Current_Actions.php (http://www.civilviolation.com/Current_Actions.php)

Here's his profile: http://www.plano.gov/CITY_HALL/CITYGOVERNMENT/DIRECTORS/Pages/ed_glasscock.aspx

Also, here is a request from Mr. Glasscock to the Texas AG regarding the request to not provide the FOIA information by Jim Ash regarding red light cameras. It seems like all that needs to be done is to CC an attorney on an email and they will claim attorney-client privledge and not provide you the information. http://www.civilviolation.com/uploads/Plano_to_AG_3-19-2009.pdf

[Steve]

Jim Ash from www.civilviolation.com (http://www.civilviolation.com) reports the following findings about Red Light Cameras and their service contract with the city of College Station, Texas.


http://www.civilviolation.com/Current_Actions.php

02-23-09
College Station Red Light Camera Billing Problems
If you have been keeping track of this issue you know by now that College Station has had issued more than 13,000 civil violations under the color of law. [Texas] SB-1119 statutorily prohibits local governments for issuing civil violations if that local government pays on a per violation basis. I found a clause in the current contract that College Station has with American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, AZ that calls for a $3.75 payment for each violation collected. Today I gained access to the monthly billing invoices for the services provided by American Traffic Solutions and found an invoice to College Station for $2,246.75 for 599 civil violations in Sept. of 2008. This is in direct violation of SB-1119. (b) A local authority that contracts for the administration and enforcement of a photographic traffic signal enforcement system may not agree to pay the contractor a specified percentage of, or dollar amount from, each civil penalty collected.


http://www.civilviolation.com/images/375_per_payment.jpg

I know the City Attorney thinks "I am in over my head" on this but I believe that a reasonable person would conclude that the City of College Station Texas is paying a dollar amount from each civil penalty collected. By the way just in case you think that $2, 246.25 is a good price to pay for red light camera operations in the City please take a look at the other invoice that American Traffic Solutions sends College Station on a month basis. Please not that the fees are marked "fixed fee" respecting SB-1119 in the main invoice and the per fee collected invoice comes under the heading of "supplemental fee" on a totally different invoice.


http://www.civilviolation.com/images/19000_per_month.jpg

[Steve]

In America we have something here called FOIA, the Freedom of Information Act. It means that the Government can't do things in secret and hide documents from the public, with exceptions towards privacy (like crime scene photos showing human misery) or national security (like how a nuculear reactor is built).

We're talking about Red Light Cameras.

THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS ASKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS IF THEY COULD WITHHOLD DOCUMENTS ABOUT THEIR RED LIGHT CAMERAS FROM THE GUY LEADING THE FIGHT TO GET THEM REMOVED IN THAT CITY!


THAT'S BEYOND ARROGANT, it's an attempt to suppress information very likely becuase they knew they were violating the law.


Then, on top of that, in the same email thread, they openly insult Jim Ash and his ability to fact find, stating "I was briefly informed prior to your email that Jim Ash may be in way over his head on this one and he just may not know it." - email from Tasha Velasco, Office of the City Secretary to Rita Stivors, Legal Assistant, City of College Station.


From: Rita Stivors
To: Tasha Velasco
CC: Brandi Whittenton; Cheryl Turney
Date: 1/14/2009 8:19 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Open Records Request - Jim Ash_Photo Enforcement Equipment
Attachments: Rita Stivors.vcf

At this point it has been decided to ask the AG to withhold because of anticipated litigation. Cheryl, if you could print out a representative sample of what you have, not all, we can use it as an exhibit.

Rita Stivors
Legal Assistant
City of College Station
Phone (979) 764-3824
Fax (979) 764-3481


I'm sorry, but I find this to be simply unacceptable. What do they think FOIA is all about? Why do they think that they're exempt? Oh that's right, they just simply are making too much money off Red Light Cameras and are openly violating a Texas Statue SB-1119.

AGAIN: We're talking about Red Light Cameras, regardless they don't have the right to hide information from the public ... and to insult a citizen who's asking for information? That's just disgusting!

Read the PDF: http://www.civilviolation.com/uploads/RS-TV-01-14-2009-0819AM.pdf

[Steve]

Wow, Jim Ash tried to get the information and the city of College Station VIOLATED his rights and they dragged their heels in providing him the information that he requested.

I'm concerned no longer just for the Red Light Cameras ... I'm concerned for the souls of the cities that are so wrapped up in making a profit that they openly seek to violate a citizens rights for information. This is DEEPLY concerning to me.

From Jim Ash's website .. http://www.civilviolation.com/Current_Actions.php (http://www.civilviolation.com/Current_Actions.php)


02-06-09
I called the City Attorney's office and they were sorry for not calling me back. I am still waiting for the City of College Station to provide me a date and time to review of the public information that I requested on January 9, 2009. Texas law requires that a governmental agency provide public information within ten working days or a request. After 11 days the City sent me a letter requiring a deposit before they would pull the records. I paid the deposit 7 days ago and I still have no information. I believe that the City is trying to delay the release of this information for some reason.