Albany’s newly installed speed cameras have generated over $95,000 in revenue from traffic citations between April and June 2023. These cameras are located at intersections including North Albany Road and West Thornton Lake Drive, as well as Queen Avenue Southeast and Geary Street. Albany Police Chief Marcia Harnden has confirmed that additional camera systems are planned for two more intersections on Queen Avenue.
Despite the significant revenue, Harnden noted in a recent phone call that the funds will not be a substantial windfall for the city. The cameras aim to alter driver behavior, particularly in areas prone to speeding complaints, especially near schools. The North Albany cameras alone have recorded nearly 2,000 speeding incidents since their installation.
The revenue reported is a gross figure, accounting for payments made to the state, county, and Verra Mobility, the Arizona-based company operating the cameras. According to Albany City Recorder Erik Glover, this figure does not include administrative costs or the $6,000 fee charged by Verra Mobility for each intersection. The city had anticipated hiring an additional court clerk due to the expected rise in citations, with a budget impact of about $95,000 for the remainder of the biennium.
The reported revenue reflects only fully paid citations, which can lead to discrepancies with the actual number of citations issued monthly. Since April, the North Albany intersection, close to both North Albany Middle and North Albany Elementary schools, has seen the majority of citations, totaling over 1,900.
The cameras are designed to capture violations such as speeding and running red lights, sending images to police for review before fines are issued. A previous staff report estimated that the cameras could issue between 15,000 and 17,000 citations annually. Last year, Albany Finance Director Jeanna Yeager indicated that the program could generate around $3 million before expenses.
Harnden emphasized that the program is not intended to be a significant source of revenue for the city. Instead, it allows for enhanced enforcement in areas of concern, enabling police officers to focus on other duties. Any surplus revenue beyond expenses would contribute to the city’s general fund and support traffic safety measures like crosswalks and improved lighting.
Residents have raised specific complaints, with some arguing that they received unfair citations, particularly when school zones were not in operation at the time of their violations. One resident noted that North Albany Elementary was closed during their passing through the school zone, while the adjacent middle school was open.
The city plans to install additional cameras at other intersections, including Southwest Queen Avenue and Elm Street, located near Memorial Middle and West Albany High schools. Some members of the Albany City Council have expressed support for the installation of flashing light signals in school zones to alert motorists when school is in session. However, Public Works Director Chris Bailey mentioned that such installations are complex and require coordination with Greater Albany Public Schools.
At a recent school board meeting, board member Brad Wilson highlighted concerns about potential recurring issues with the Elm Street camera, suggesting that drivers may again be unaware of which school is operating at the time. Superintendent Andy Gardner is expected to meet with Harnden next week to further discuss these matters.
