KEY POINTS:
Motorists seeing bright flashes in their rear-vision mirrors as they run red lights at some of Auckland's worst intersections can expect $150 fines in the mail.
Cameras protected by bullet-proof glass and solid metal casings were to be switched on at midnight last night in a bid by Auckland City Council and the police to stem an epidemic of red-light running blamed for more than 1000 crashes throughout the city in the five years to 2005.
That makes Auckland drivers far worse than those of any other New Zealand city for ignoring red lights, bringing them into disrepute for exacerbating congestion as well as endangering lives.
Although only two digital cameras are being used for an $800,000 pilot, for which the council is paying half and which the Government will evaluate after six months for possible extensions to other cities, the police promise to put them on high-rotation around 10 of central Auckland's most dangerous intersections.
Each has a 3m grey column perched nearby, and district road-policing manager Inspector Heather Wells said it would be almost impossible for motorists to tell which was hiding a camera, until they triggered a nearby flash unit by running a red light.
Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard issued a warning to motorists at a launch ceremony yesterday that the Government was keen on adding 75 demerit points to existing fines of $150 for running lights.
She acknowledged a law change would be needed to add demerit points for offences caught on camera, so there was no chance of motorists receiving these during the trial.
But 75 demerits would mean motorists caught more than once would face automatic licence suspensions, a prospect the minister said would provide greater deterrence than fines.
She said in a speech delivered on behalf of Transport Minister Annette King that research showed fines were "not working, particularly with young traffic offenders".
Red-light running was not just a safety issue, but exacerbated congestion by forcing motorists to hesitate at green lights.
"It's got to the point where we cannot guarantee a green light for our stream of traffic is going to mean others will stop."
She noted it was not the first time Auckland City Council had introduced red-light cameras, and that her mother, Dame Cath Tizard, was a strong supporter of an earlier scheme as the city's mayor in the 1980s.
"Every time she goes through the intersection at the top of Hobson St, she mutters and curses about the [former] Ministry of Transport taking over the ACC traffic department in 1989."
But Ms Tizard disputed a claim by a former police sergeant, in an email to the Herald from Australia, that a revenue-squeeze by the Government led to the takeover and subsequent demise of the earlier cameras, which he said he was in charge of operating. "The ACC traffic department first introduced red-light cameras in about 1986 and were very successful, reducing the amount of red-light runners," said Sandy Beckett, who later become head of the Auckland police serious crash unit.
"The Government of the day decided it wanted a slice of the revenue the ACC was getting through traffic enforcement and passed a law to do so."
Ms Tizard said the takeover was part of a national move, and she understood the cameras simply deteriorated with age, and were too expensive to replace.
Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope said the new-generation cameras would make roads safer for Aucklanders, although he added they were part of a range of safety measures and the police needed to consider impacts on its infringement bureau before a decision on extending the pilot.
Automobile Association spokesman Simon Lambourne told the Herald his organisation supported the scheme, as red-light running was "inexcusable, unforgivable, arrogant and must not be allowed to happen".
But he believed any negative public perceptions would be reduced if some of the revenue was used to buy more cameras.
Auckland City transport committee deputy chairman John Lister pointed to a survey that found 75 per cent public support for red-light cameras, and said the council would be willing to hold a workshop to share results of the pilot with others.
