Willis, Texas ignores pending referendum, criminal complaint and rising accidents to renew red light camera program.
A criminal complaint and a pending ballot box revolt by residents failed to dissuade officials in Willis, Texas from extending the contract giving American Traffic Solutions (ATS) the right to mail out traffic citations at local intersections. The city council on Tuesday approved a new agreement with ATS by a 2 to 1 vote while several of the councilmen were absent.
“The mayor is blatantly ignoring the will of the people and presiding over an illegally run camera operation,” Kelli Cook, a Campaign for Liberty activist, told TheNewspaper.
Cook has already collected 750 signatures on a petition to put a repeal of the red light camera program on the ballot, far more than the 113 needed to qualify. Texans have rejected cameras every time they have appeared on the ballot with votes in Conroe, Dayton, Houston, Baytown, League City and College Station.
The Willis activists have lodged a number of complaints about the automated ticketing program that has been in place at two intersections since 2010, locations they charge were selected without the engineering studies required by state law. Willis Police Chief James Nowak admitted the complaint is valid…
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