Fayetteville Calls It Quits on Red-Light Cameras

Fayetteville, N.C. — Red-light cameras to catch traffic violators are on their way out in Fayetteville, victims of an unresolvable dispute over splitting the income from fines.

Fines from violators caught by cameras are supposed to go to the local school system. A court ruled in a case involving High Point that the municipality operating the cameras could keep 10 percent to cover costs. An appeal is pending with the state Supreme Court.

City Councilman Curtis Worthy said the schools wants 100 percent of the fines, and the city wants to keep enough to cover its expenses.

Fayetteville and the Cumberland County school system have been trying to agree on fee-splitting but haven't, and the city says that the system, which uses 35mm film that has to be developed is not financially feasible otherwise.

The city's contract for the camera system runs out July 31, and that will be the end.

The city said it might consider bringing back digital cameras if the funding distribution can be resolved.

The city has nine cameras. a 10th came down in a fatal accident car accident this month.

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Latest Comments

Really.....too many council members or their family members have received tickets and we don't want that, now do we.

dell
May 30, 2007 3:29 p.m.

Why not double the fine, lease the red light camera equipment and maintain the system through the police department. The revenue from the fines would go toward keeping the equipment functional. Safety should be most important and not where the revenue goes. This also removes a private, third-party company from 'cashing in' on stoplights that are purposely altered to generate more money.

svaraj38758
May 30, 2007 1:07 p.m.

"Great, the camera actually killed someone, someone who might still be alive if that stupid pole wasn't there."

No, a drunk driver killed someone.

Derrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
May 30, 2007 1:39 a.m.

Before some of you go on whining about teachers, remember it wasn't the teachers idea to put these cameras up. The government wanted them up as a way to shift the cost of schools from city coffers to something else. That way the city could waste the taxpayers money on something else.

And if you think teachers have a cushy job, sign a contract and you can have one too. Fayetteville/Cumberland County schools job fair is June 12. Call 678-2300. I'm sure you won't call, but there it is. No teaching license required, just a college degree.

daMoFo
May 29, 2007 1:11 p.m.

And remember kids - red light cameras are about SAFETY, not revenue.

Which of course perfectly explains why these cameras are being pulled.

Oh wait, no it doesn't....