Topic: Red-Light Cameras

Clarksville Police warns citizens of Red Light Camera Citation Scam

February 12, 2019 |

Clarksville Police Department

Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville Police Department has been made aware that people are receiving phone calls and emails about a Notice of Traffic Violation, Red Light Camera Scam and wanted to make the public aware.

The potential victim receives an email Notice of Traffic Violation from informing them they’ve been “cited with a traffic violation and must pay your citation within 72 hours.

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2016 Legislative Session of the 109th Tennessee General Assembly report

June 1, 2016 |

Tennessee State Representative Curtis Johnson

Nashville, TN – The 109th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned on April 22nd, 2016 to become a part of Tennessee history with passage of major legislation to reduce crime, cut tax burdens, spur job growth, accelerate the state’s success in K-12 education, boost the number of college graduates, curb drug abuse and curtail drunk driving.

State lawmakers also passed significant legislation to ease traffic congestion, reduce child abuse, aid farmers, increase access to healthcare and medication, increase voter participation and provide a safer environment for the elderly.

Following, please find a copy of some of the highlights of this year’s legislative action.

Tennessee State Representative Curtis Johnson

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Clarksville Police Department News

June 16, 2009 |

Crime is still happening and we in law enforcement are doing our best to make sure it happens as little as possible. That being said, we finally received our crime statistic numbers comparing us to other Tennessee cities with over 50,000 populations. Please understand this is not meant to portray other cities in a negative or positive light, but it does let you see how our numbers look using the data submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which uses standardized criteria for reporting. Wow, was that a mouth full? Okay, here goes:

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CPD Saturation Patrol Results and Red-Light Camera program update.

May 18, 2009 |

The Clarksville Police Department’s Saturation patrols (partially funded by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office) to detect DUI/Impaired drivers was held on May 1 and 2 between 2200 hours and 0400 hours. The expanded patrols yielded the following results:

• 10 DUIs
• 3 Implied Consent
• 42 Speeding
• 1 Following Too Closely
• 1 Failure to Use Reasonable Care
• 1 Failure To Maintain Lane
• 2 Move Over Law
• 4 Traffic Signals
• 1 Handicap Parking
• 1 Taxi Permit
• 8 Insurance Law
• 16 Equipment Violations
• 6 Driver License Violations
• 9 Revoked/Suspended Driver Licenses
• 5 Vehicle Registration
• 4 Warrants

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Red Light Cameras Will Soon Be Online

April 20, 2009 |

Three intersection red light cameras will soon be operational, much to the joy of some and the chagrin of others. The intersections for the Red Light cameras will be clearly marked. The intersections with the red light cameras will be: 1) Wilma Rudolph/Trenton Rd; 2) Wilma Rudolph/I-24; and 3) Ft Campbell Blvd/Gate 3. Barring any inclement weather, the cameras should be operational by May 1, 2009.

When the first red light camera is activated, there will be a 30 day warning period for drivers. What does that mean? It means the cameras will be functional and red light violators will be identified and issued warning Notice of Violation (similar to a civil summons). This will allow drivers to have a grace period for getting used to operation of the cameras and allows the Police Department time to ensure equipment and procedures are in place and working correctly. «Read the rest of this article»

City’s drive for new enforcement cameras must be stopped!

By Bill Larson | April 13, 2009 |

Enforcement cameras are coming to town, and it’s time we stand up and say, NO!

In our society an innocent person does not have to fear the intrusion of government into their lives. They won’t be followed by dark men with dark intentions unless of course they commit a crime. Automated enforcement cameras will change our free society to one where everyone is constantly watched, a potential criminal.

We all feel a guilty pleasure when we see someone who proceeds through a signaled  intersection while we stop, getting pulled over for a ticket. There is even a term for it… Schadenfreude: Happiness at the misfortune of others. While it might feel good, these cameras come at a cost: your money, your civil rights, and your civil liberties.

The first cameras have not yet been installed, however, city officials hungry for easy revenue have announced that they already plan to expand their camera programs. They have already authorized red-light cameras, and are now considering installing mobile and fixed speed cameras, and stop sign cameras. These cameras don’t stop accidents; they simply allow the city to profit from technical violations  the vast majority of which, do not result in accidents. The sad thing is these cameras have a rather nasty side affect, they increase accidents, damage, injuries, and fatalities. Don’t take my word for it, go and read the studies for yourself! «Read the rest of this article»

A writer’s calendar in review

December 13, 2008 |

The past several months have provided a wealth of images and topics to be covered. Local and regional interests have drawn my attention, eye and words to their descriptive influences.

I thought it a fitting action to showcase the ninety or more days of news coverage to give you, our readers, a glimpse at just how much effort goes into bringing you information and news of your world. Not every image presented here will have been previously included in a published news story. Some of these images are background material and some are just for visual impression. Often we see things which are inspirational, if not exactly newsworthy or pertinent to the immediate story. They have to wait for special coverage like this to have their day. «Read the rest of this article»

Red light cameras in the Volunteer State: unsafe, unconstitutional, and unnecessary

September 23, 2008 |

In February 2006, the City of Gallatin unveiled the Automated Camera Enforcement System. The system, known as A.C.E.S., is designed to catch drivers running red lights at intersections. Rather than relying on police officers to perform this function, the cameras automatically trigger when a driver enters an intersection after the light turns red. A police officer then reviews the tape, prints off a citation, and mails it to the owner of the vehicle that ran the light.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Gallatin is not alone. At least nine other communities in Tennessee, including Knoxville, Chattanooga, Germantown, Murfreesboro, and Jackson currently operate these devices.¹ Other Tennessee communities considering their use include Clarksville, Morristown, Cookeville, La Follette, and Oak Ridge. Additionally, Chattanooga, Jackson, Mount Carmel, Red Bank, and Selmer have begun using speed cameras, similar devices used to capture speeding motorists.² «Read the rest of this article»

Big Brother lives: Photo ticket cameras could track drivers nationwide

By Bill Larson | September 18, 2008 |

When the discussion of installing red-light cameras in Clarksville began, one of the arguments against them was their potential use for tasks beyond ticketing red-light violators. This is commonly known as “mission creep.” Cameras are first installed for one reason, then, after they are in place, it’s simple to expand their use for other purposes. For example, while cameras in Clarksville initially won’t ticket for speeding, several City Council members have already expressed interest in getting the “whole package,” which would include speed enforcement as well.

Those who warned of the civil liberties issues with these cameras were 100% correct that they could be used to track and database the movement and associations of law abiding citizens. Why is this dangerous? Let’s say one day the government does something that you don’t like. Then, lawfully exercising your right to free speech and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievance, you protest it. Suddenly you have popped up on the government’s radar screen. The government can then check the voluminous records they have already started keeping on Americans, such as travel and flight records.

The government can go back and go through your call logs, Internet traffic, movement logs, and other electronic traces with a fine tooth comb looking for things that woud allow them to harrass or intimidate you.

There are millions of laws on the books, many of them complex and hard for the average person to understand and follow. How many of these laws are you aware of? How many of them have you inadvertently broken? How many others exist that you don’t even know about! «Read the rest of this article»

Knoxville dumps Redflex red light cameras

September 9, 2008 |

Clarksville wants to install red-light cameras at four to six Clarksville intersections in what is basically a dangerous revenue generating scheme. These cameras result in more accidents not less. The damage rear end accidents cause often costs more to repair. There is also an increased likelihood of injuries and even death to those who are involved in these red-light camera triggered rear-end accidents. Let’s not even talk about the fact that city-wide insurance rates will likely end up going through the roof even if you never get one of these tickets.

The company our city is currently favoring is Redflex, an Australian company. They have been the vendor in charge of the City of Knoxville’s red-light camera system that is until August 1st. Redflex missed a filing deadline to renew their contract. Reflex lays the blame for the missed deadline on the Federal Express package courier company.

The City of Knoxville has had mixed results with their experience with Redflex and could have opted to allow Redflex to file their bid late but chose specifically not to do so. This is a clear indication of their dissatisfaction with the company.

Clarksville frequently holds the city of Knoxville as an example the city of Clarksville should aspire to. So perhaps we should delay awarding a red-light camera enforcement contract to a company that they are in the process of dumping. «Read the rest of this article»

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