Posted on: Friday, February 1,2002

State to disclose exact locations of camera vans

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

The state plans to tell drivers the exact locations of its photo speed enforcement vans and ban them in areas where the speed limits vary widely within short stretches or could otherwise be viewed as speed traps, Department of Transportation Director Brian Minaai said yesterday.

The changes, which could be announced as early as today, are part of an effort to make the 2-month-old photo enforcement program "a little more acceptable" to the public, Minaai said after briefing state representatives yesterday.

"We're carefully evaluating and eliminating some of the van use in speed zone transition areas and where they could be construed as speed traps," he said.

Up to now the state has only said the cameras operate on state highways such as Pali or Farrington highways. Under the new plan, the state will announce the specific location of the cameras on those highways, Minaai said. There are no immediate plans to expand the program to the Neighbor Islands, he said.

Other changes being made include more use of the vans in the late night and early morning and limiting them to areas that have a documented history of serious accidents or excessive speeding.