GALLATIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Despite making money off of them, city officials in Gallatin want to get rid of red light cameras that catch drivers who run red lights.
City council approved to notify American Traffic Solutions, Inc., an Arizona-based vendor, that the city would like to end the contract early, even though it expires in 2023.
Since 2006, there have been four red light cameras across the city at the intersections of Nashville Pike & Belvedere Drive, Nashville Pike & Maple Street, Nashville Pike & Cages Bend Road and State Route 109 & Airport Road.
Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown disagrees with the ticketing system, and says the cameras are constantly being challenged, provide the city with a bad image and alter natural driving habits.
Council member Jimmy Overton favors removing the cameras.
"The red light cameras are not a popular thing in any city, they're just not that popular," Overton told NewsChannel 5. "I voted for it when it came up because of the safety factor and its done everything we hoped it would do."
Drivers like David Carr received the $50 ticket in the past. He was caught by the camera for turning right on red, before legislation passed that said that was no longer allowed.
He said drivers slow down but can also tend to brake abruptly to avoid being ticketed.
"I have almost seen accidents to where people really stopped real quick just as it changed yellow and it was almost dangerous," Carr said.
However, here are other council members who prefer to keep the red light cameras because they say it is working. Gallatin police said in the meeting that there was a 56 percent reduction in property damage and injury crashes at the intersections from 2005 to 2018.
It has also helped police solve certain crimes, including theft.
If ending the contract with American Traffic Solutions early, the city would have to figure out how to compensate the funds. According to the finance department, Gallatin made $503,557 in revenue in 2010 but has drastically gone down in 2018 at $194,296.
The money is split with the vendor before it goes to the general fund.
Overton said he is not worried.
"It's more about a safety issue than it was about money. We're fine, the city is in good shape and we'll make up for the revenue if we decide to do away with the cameras," Overton said.
He said the city is waiting to hear back from its attorney to find out ending the contract early is possible.
Murfreesboro and Clarksville are other cities that use red light cameras.
