Fort Worth follows City of Balcones Heights lead on installation of Red-Lights Cameras at City intersections

Fort Worth OKs use of Red Light Cameras at intersections

Fort Worth City Council members voted Tuesday to authorize red-light cameras at intersections but delayed choosing a contractor. Councilman Chuck Silcox had concerns about American Traffic Solutions, (ATS) the contractor scheduled to run the camera system, and asked city staffers to investigate further.

Silcox cited media reports that at least one city that hired ATS had lost money on the system during the early phases. City staffers had recommended hiring the same company used in Arlington because they didn't have time to go through their own bidding process.

Editor's Note: Balcones Heights uses the red-light cameras and to date still hasn't released the total number of fines paid. In the first two months of installation, over 1800 citations were issued by American Traffic Solutions, the vendor of record. ATS recently released some information claiming all but 10 tickets being tracked by ATS were paid. They pointed out that some tickets were being paid directly to the City and they could not track those citations. The traffic tickets are civil, not criminal which does not allow for issue of warrants, suspension of license or information turned over to insurance companies.