City of El Paso’s contract with red light cameras operator expiring soon

The city of El Paso’s contract with Redflex, the company that administers its red light traffic cameras, is set to expire in 2017.

“We definitely think it is an asset,” said El Paso Police Department spokesman Darrel Petry adding, “if we continue to have the program and have the availability of moving the program forward, I think it would be good for the city of El Paso.”

The red light camera program, which began in 2006, was an attempt by the city to reduce the number of drivers running red lights at some of its busiest intersections. Since then, there have been five additional cameras added, Petry said, bringing the total up to 21 citywide.

The cameras take three pictures and about 30 seconds of video when drivers run a red light.

After an officer reviews video of the offense, a $75 citation is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

“We benefit from the program because it does help us, it extends our personnel,” Petry said. “We have some type of device that is monitoring the intersection without a physical officer being at the intersection.”

The cameras have captured about 37,000 drivers throughout the city of El Paso running red lights, this year alone. The money from those tickets has generated about $1 million for the city.

Recently the former CEO for Redflex was sentenced to prison for bribery, which could impact the city’s decision of extending the contract.

“We have a contract with them and everyone on both ends of that contract seem to be fulfilling the terms of that contract,” Petry said.

The contract expires in June. ABC-7 will update you with the city’s decision when one is made.