Posted at 11:24 a.m., Thursday, January 3, 2002
Cautious drivers keeping traffic ticket numbers low
| • | Here's where cameras will enforce laws of the road |
| • | Explanatory article |
| • | Q&A |
| • | Join our discussion on the state's traffic cam program |
| • | DOT Web site |
By Mike Gordon and Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writers
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| The vehicle parked off Pali Highway was one of four unmarked vans with lasers, cameras, computers and operators deployed yesterday across O'ahu. Drivers whizzing by faster than 45 mph could expect citations in the mail soon.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Wary drivers tapped their brakes more often yesterday as the state's new photo-enforcement system found fewer speeding vehicles than expected on its first day of operation.
Four unmarked vans equiped with lasers, cameras and computers spread out across O'ahu streets and highways yesterday. They checked 13,507 vehicles, of which 927 were speeding, said Marilyn Kali, state transportation department spokeswoman.
"It is much lower than we expected," she said today. "People are really slowing down. It is obvious we made a difference. We are very pleased."
The vans monitored drivers at 24 different locations, including the Pali Highway, Likelike Highway, Kalaniana'ole Highway near Sandy Beach, Moanalua Freeway and Nimitz Highway.
Just how many of those 927 drivers will receive citations will not be known until Saturday evening, Kali said. Technicians must first review the photo evidence in each case, compare license plate numbers to a list of registered drivers and eliminate cases with insufficient evidence.
The owners have 15 days to pay a fine, provide a written excuse or request a court appearance. The first trials of those challenging their citations or the legal underpinnings of the three-year pilot program probably won't be scheduled until at least mid-February, Kali said.
The new program received a lot of publicity in December, when the vans issued only warnings. Kali said 106,585 vehicles were checked and 4,962 drivers were given warnings.
Kali said the thrust of the program is not to give speeding citations, but to get drivers to slow down.
The state has not yet begun using the photo technology to catch drivers who run red lights at key intersections.
"We still haven't gotten the city approval to hook up the necessary equipment," Kali said.
The state contracts with the city's Department of Transportation Services to operate and maintain all traffic signals on O'ahu, including those on state highways.
"We have to get them to to hook up the cameras to the controllers and traffic signals," Kali said. "We're hoping that will be done very soon."
Cheryl Soon, director of city transportation services, said the city is still reviewing the technical plans for the free-standing cameras, expected to be mounted at 10 O'ahu intersections.
"There's no philosophical controversy," Soon said. "We're just trying to make sure all the wiring is compatible and can't cause any disruption with the traffic signal. We've sent the state some suggestions, and they are reviewing our notes."
