First in a series
A million out, but how much in?
That is the jackpot question in the continuing debate over Redflex Traffic Systems, of Phoenix and Australia, serving as Culver City’s red light camera vendor even as it battles a bribery scandal in Chicago.
Police Capt. Allen Azran said today that under terms of City Hall’s expired contract with Redflex – presently being renewed monthly — a cool $1 million swims from Culver City to Redflex offices in Arizona.
But do not ask anyone at City Hall or the Police Dept. how much the city derives from the red light cameras.
The answer is not a secret.
It is unknown.
Depending on who is speaking, that is satisfactory, unsatisfactory or the estimated amount – not the precise number – is fine and dandy.
Under the proposed new three-year deal, that figure will be sliced to $750,000 a year.
Capt. Azran emphasized that City Hall’s arrangement with Redflex is in cement, not tied to
any incentive clause, such as the number of flashing red light tickets issued.
The new contract has not been signed.
So?
“The proposal that Redflex submitted,” he said, “that we recommended approving (two weeks ago by the City Council) is for $3,211 per approach per month, which is roughly $250,000 a year savings. But that amount of money does not change if we issue triple the tickets the following year. It always is going to be the same.
“And when somebody gets a ticket, he or she pays the money to the court of L.A. County. They do not pay their money to Redflex.”
Why would Redflex accept a 25 percent reduction from City Hall?
“There are a bunch of reasons,” Capt. Azran said. “The cost of the equipment maybe is less. Because competition from other companies has caused prices to go down. Seven or eight years ago, Redflex was really at the forefront of technology. Not a lot of companies were doing what they do. Maybe today the market allows Redflex to charge a certain amount of money.”
(To be continued)
