A public safety task force was appointed by Sugar Land City Council June 18 to study the effectiveness of the city's red light cameras. Work began Aug. 1 and is scheduled to continue for approximately 120 days before a final recommendation is made to City Council by Dec. 1. The recommendation will ask council to continue, modify or eliminate red light cameras throughout the city.

"We will make a hopefully unanimous presentation to City Council and [the process] will be open," task force chairman Harvey Zinn said. We can modify [red light cameras], we can limit it, we can take it to an election—we can recommend anything we want once we hear all the sides. We just do not know all the sides yet."

When Sugar Land City Council appointed the 11-member task force in June, Mayor James Thompson stressed the importance of conducting a study independent from council influence and instead focusing on the input of residents.

"This is an independent decision and [the committee] needs to come to that conclusion," he said. "All of these meetings will be conducted as open meetings where any citizen who has an interest is welcome to attend. We want to make sure that all public comments are heard."

Other members of the task force include long-time Sugar Land residents ranging from business owners to community volunteers. Recommendations made by public safety task force will not be affiliated with city council. A presentation regarding the red light camera system will be presented to City Council in October.

For more information on red light cameras in Sugar Land, residents can visit www.sugarlandtx.gov or attend the traffic safety task force meetings held at Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Boulevard the second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m.

How red light cameras work

The city of Sugar Land implemented the Safe Light program in 2008, which resulted in an estimated 58 percent decrease in accidents at targeted intersections from 2009–2012, according to a study by the city.

Motorists who trigger red light cameras are subject to a $75 fine from the city. Revenues from these fines—which account for about 0.3 percent of the Sugar Land budget—are split between city and the state to fund traffic projects from intersection improvements to traffic enforcement initiatives.

Each red light camera photograph is reviewed by local police officers to determine whether it is a violation or not. If accepted as a violation, a letter is mailed to the vehicle owner. Motorists can contest violations by signing and mailing the notice. After a court date is set, the violator can attend the hearing. If found liable, the motorist can appeal to the municipal court judge, who will make the final decision.

Red light cameras associated with Safe Light Sugar Land are located at W. Airport Boulevard and Eldridge Parkway, Hwy. 90 at Reed Road, and the Hwy. 59 and Hwy. 6 interchange. After reaching a nearly 60-percent compliance level at several intersections between 2011–2012, the city removed cameras at Hwy. 59 and Sugar Lakes Boulevard and two from Hwy. 59 and Hwy. 6. According to the city, approximately 70 percent of red light camera violators are not Sugar Land residents.