Roving photo radar for Sierra Vista

CREATED Aug. 20, 2012

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  • New photo radar on wheels hits the streets soon. Only a fixed location before Video by kgun9.com

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  • Sierra Vista Police say photo radar slows drivers down and makes streets safer. They say it's not a money grab as critics claim.

Reporter: Craig Smith

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz, (KGUN9-TV) - Drivers in Sierra Vista have something else on the road to watch out for: a new radar trailer--ready to snap and send you a ticket.

You're pressing too hard on the gas---and pressing your luck.  Then your luck runs out.  It's tough enough when a police officer tells you you've made an expensive mistake.
       
Now, Sierra Vista Police have a new electronic way to make you slow down---or else.

The photo radar trailer was supposed to be out on the streets of Sierra Vista Monday morning, snapping pictures of speeders but some equipment troubles may keep it out of action through the end of the week.

Police plan to park it in speeding hot spots - - - the ones officers know,  and the neighborhood streets residents request.

Officers will review what it gets and decide whether to issue a ticket.

Sierra Vista does post where the trailer will be.

KGUN9 reporter Craig Smith asked Sierra Vista Police Lieutenant Lawrence Boutte : "Its inevitable,  people are just going to say,  its just a money grab more than a safety issue,  what do you say to people like that?

Lt. Boutte said: "Well, the good thing about that is in Arizona is all the money goes to the county and to the POST (Arizona Police Officer Standards and Training). Cities get a very limited amount of that money,  I think its pennies on the dollar as far as what the city gets on that so it has nothing to do with money it has everything to do with safety."

Here's the funny thing about this issue.  We can find people who don't like these robotic radar cameras.  But they're afraid to talk on camera. They're a little afraid they'll come across as someone who favors breaking the law."
     
For a car guy's perspective, we went to Monty's Motors where they've been fixing cars for almost 60 years.

Craig Smith asked Tice Ehlers: "what's your feeling about having basically a ticket taking robot out there?"  

Ehlers said, "Oh,  its a pretty good idea.  You've got the one on 7th Street that seems to catch people and a lot of people around here speed, so... "

Smith asked owner Greg Montoya:"What sort of behavior do you see driving around town?"  

Montoya says, "A lot of times violent, very violent.  I see people always speeding and driving like they're crazy, like mad. Its nice to see that maybe this will slow them down."
    
The roving trailer joins a stationary camera that's been snapping speeders for almost a year. Sierra Vista Police have four more non-moving cameras in the works.