DPS to take over cameras on Loop101

SCOTTSDALE – Two changes are coming to the controversial Scottsdale photo‑enforcement program beginning in July.

First, the Arizona Department of Public Safety will assume the administration of Loop 101 cameras. And, a new vendor will take over the city’s street‑level program, adding three new locations.

Drivers should see very few interruptions in photo‑enforcement coverage.

 The shift to DPS administration of the freeway program comes after the city council approved an agreement with the agency. Scottsdale will contract with its vendor to provide a photo‑enforcement system on the freeway, but DPS will be responsible for oversight of the system and will issue citations.

 “The Arizona Department of Public Safety is committed to ensuring that Arizona highways are a safe environment for our citizens and visitors alike,” said DPS Director Roger Vanderpool. “Our officers are committed to reducing incidents of dangerous driving, to include excessive speed.

“It is a proven fact that excessive speed contributes to the seriousness of traffic collisions and increases injuries and fatalities in such crashes. Photo enforcement is another tool to assist our agency in the ongoing, day‑to‑day effort of highway safety.”

 The council also approved a contract with American Traffic Solutions to operate photo enforcement on city streets.

 Speeders flashed by ATS cameras on Loop 101 will receive tickets from DPS, not the City of Scottsdale, although freeway citations will continue to be processed through Scottsdale City Court.

 The agreement between DPS and the city is for eight months. That period should allow enough time for the state to develop its own program to contract directly for photo‑enforcement services.

 ATS also will install cameras at three new city street locations, set to begin monitoring motorists on July 1.

 The new Scottsdale street locations include:

·                      Pima Road, both north‑ and southbound, between Los Gatos and Thompson Peak Parkway. These cameras, at a mid‑point location between intersections, will monitor for speed only.

·                      Shea Boulevard between 120th and 124th streets, eastbound and westbound, also a mid‑block, speed‑only camera.

·                      McDowell Road eastbound at Scottsdale Road. This intersection camera will monitor both speed and red‑light running.

·                      The six fixed‑camera intersection locations currently operating that monitor speed and red‑light running are:

·                      Northbound Scottsdale Road at Thomas Road

·                      Northbound Scottsdale Road at Cactus Road

·                      Southbound Hayden Road at Indian School Road

·                      Northbound Scottsdale Road at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard

·                      Southbound Scottsdale Road at Shea Boulevard

·                      Eastbound Shea Boulevard at 90th Street

·                      The changes also call for deactivation of cameras at the intersections of Pima and Pinnacle Peak roads southbound and Hayden Road northbound at McCormick Parkway. One mid‑block location on Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard at 77th Street will also be deactivated.

Four mobile‑camera vans will continue to operate in Scottsdale.

Photo‑enforcement cameras are set to photograph motorists when they travel 11 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit. Mobile cameras photograph drivers exceeding the limit in school zones by 6 m.p.h.

For information on how to pay a photo‑enforcement citation, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/courts/civil//radar.asp.

For photo‑enforcement mobile van locations, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/photoradar/pdf/photo vanlocations.pdf.