KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Kaufman County law enforcement agencies will increase school zone patrols and enforcement efforts in wake of the cancellation of the school zone speed and bus stop-arm camera program, according to Kaufman County in a press release.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Kaufman County law enforcement agencies will increase school zone patrols and enforcement efforts in wake of the cancellation of the school zone speed and bus stop-arm camera program, according to Kaufman County in a press release.
The program officially ended last month on August 22, 2016, after a vote by the Kaufman County Commissioners’ Court to cancel and settle a contract a 10-year contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) after only two years.
Commissioners had previously approved a proposed settlement of $175,000 and a $6,800 removal fee for ATS to retrieve their equipment. The settlement was proposed to be paid out of the funds collected from the program which amounted to approximately $198,000.
“This program has helped the county better understand the scope of the school zone speeding and school bus stop arm running problem,” Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood stated in a press release announcing the end of the program. “Program violation data will be a valuable tool for the county to use as part of its future enforcement strategy.”
“Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office is committed in continuing its efforts to protect and ensure the safety of the County’s most valuable asset—the community’s children,” stated the release. “With the cameras no longer in operation, the Sheriff’s Department will increase patrols and enforcement at locations where speeding was most prevalent.”
The patrol campaign officially kicked off with the beginning of the new school year.
Wood says the program achieved several goals including raised awareness and changed driver behavior.
“This program has achieved its goals,” stated Wood. “The cameras have been an effective tool for our sheriff’s department to use to enforce speeding and stop arm running in our school zones and around our buses.”
“Furthermore, the publicity and heightened public awareness of the program had a positive impact on driver behavior,” he said. “Let there be no mistake, we take the issue of stop arm running and school zone speeding very seriously in Kaufman County.”
“Our Sheriff’s department is ready to increase enforcement as needed,” stated Wood.
Opponents of the program called it unconstitutional, among other things, and Commissioner Vrzalik warned of rising penalties and thousands of lost sheriff’s office man hours deploying the equipment.
Kaufman County will continue to pursue payment on all violations issued through August 22, 2016.
