Should Creve Coeur Keep Red Light Cameras?

In a memo to City Council members to be discussed Monday night, Creve Coeur Police Chief Glenn Eidman suggests keeping the city's red light camera program.

The current contract with American Traffic Solutions, expires next September.

The cameras are located at Ladue Road & Couer De Ville and Ladue & Emerson, Olive Boulevard and Interstate 270, and Olive Boulevard at North New Ballas Rd.

According to the police analysis, there have been no fatalities at the intersections since the cameras were deployed. At the Ladue-270 area. Sideswipes and lane changes have increased at Olive and 270, while red light running crashes at that intersection have averaged 1 per year since cameras were installed.

Red light cameras have their critics both legally and in the court of public opinion. Courts have upheld the city's program.

Chief Eidman's memo compares city survey results when residents were asked about the cameras.

In 2008:

• 58 percent supported cameras
• 31 percent did not
• 10 percent were not sure
• 1 percent was unfamiliar with the cameras

In 2011:

• 42 percent supported cameras
• 45 percent did not support cameras
• 13 percent were not sure

City leaders have also had to convince skeptical residents that the cameras are not just a money grab, and that a sliding scale is in place. In fiscal year 2009, the cameras brought in $1,138,529 in fines. In 2010 and 2011, there were $760,325 and $738,416 respectively collected in fines.

Tell us about your red light camera experiences in Creve Coeur. Do you think the city should keep them?