Van cam changes rejected by critics
• Map of traffic camera van locations
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
Drivers will now know where, but not when, to look for those traffic camera vans. Citing a need to refocus its controversial enforcement program, the state yesterday released a list of at least 70 sites where the cameras will be allowed to operate on O'ahu. They range from Makapu'u to Makaha.
The locations were chosen in large part based on the number of speed-related crashes that resulted in deaths and injuries on state roads between 1998 and 2000, Department of Transportation Director Brian Minaai said yesterday.
"We acknowledge that we can do better, and we are addressing the legitimate concerns raised by lawmakers and the public in recent weeks," Minaai said.
Critics, however, quickly rejected the changes as "grossly insufficient."
"The revisions are inadequate, and they should instead halt this program immediately," said Rep. Kika Bukoski (R-10th, Upcountry Maui).
Minaai said the Transportation Department each day will pick the locations that it wants monitored and direct the private operator of the system to those spots. By law, the camera vans are not allowed to remain in one site for more than four hours.
The department does not plan to tell motorists exactly when the cameras will be in a particular location. That would be the same as encouraging speeding elsewhere, he said. Up to now, the state has only said which highways the cameras are on, but not given specific locations.
Other changes to the program, based upon input from the public and state lawmakers, include:
• Banning the cameras in areas where speed limits suddenly change.
• Keeping them out of areas that could be perceived as "speed traps."
• Increasing late-night and early morning monitoring.
The first 10 p.m.-to-6 a.m. camera shifts will begin this weekend, Minaai said.
The camera locations include "critical areas" such as residential neighborhoods, areas with large pedestrian or elderly traffic and areas where numerous accidents have occurred in the past.
On the Pali Highway, for instance, the cameras will be limited to the residential area of Nu'uanu. The cameras will not be placed on the Kailua side of the Pali tunnels or between Nu'uanu and the tunnels.
"We know that the Nu'uanu community supports this idea," Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday. "Try crossing the street there where four people have been killed, including a couple of senior citizens who were killed in crosswalks. We have struggled to make that entire area safe and these traffic cameras, I believe, will help us."
Cayetano said officials feel the goal is not "to use the cameras to catch people. What we want to do is prevent speeding. There's a difference."
The state also will appeal to Ho-nolulu officials to rejoin the program and allow use of the vans on city streets, especially in school zones or residential neighborhoods. The city last month withdrew its participation in the three-year, trial program, citing safety concerns.
"We're hoping the city will work with us to put them in these critical areas," Minaai said. City officials had not formally heard any request to discuss the issue and had no immediate comment on rejoining the program, spokeswoman Carol Costa said.
Meanwhile, DOT engineers are working overtime to expedite a review of all speed limits on state roads, Minaai said. He promised to have the review finished within 30 days.
Minaai said plans to expand the speed camera vans to Neighbor Islands and to use cameras to catch red-light intersections remain on hold for now.
"We want to monitor their effectiveness and concentrate our efforts here," he said.
The changes left some opponents unsatisfied.
"The traffic camera system is a demonstration project that clearly demonstrates the public does not like it," said Rep. Charles Djou (R-47th, Kane'ohe-Kahalu'u). "I hope there are enough legislators willing to challenge the state bureaucracy and vote to remove this system rather than just accept the system with some tweaks."
Minaai rejected lawmakers' call for a suspension, saying the department could not make that decision on its own.
"Until another law is passed, we're mandated to administer this program," he said. "We'll abide by that legislative mandate until we're told otherwise." Simply killing the program would likely result in a lawsuit by the contractor which would want to be reimbursed for equipment and staff used in setting up the program, he said.
Minaai admitted that his department has been flooded with calls and e-mails complaining about the program.
"Hindsight is 20/20," he said. "We could have done things differently, but we're making adjustments now as we go. There is an emerging silent majority in support of the cameras."
Advertiser staff writer Lynda Arakawa contributed to this report.
