Scottsdale, AZ - Loop 101 to have photo radar in place 06'
In the first week of January, Scottsdale will begin operating its traffic regulations enforcement system on the 101 Freeway. This will be the first photo radar system on any freeway in Arizona.
Sergeant Mark Clark of the Scottsdale Police Department said, "There is a 7.8 mile stretch of the freeway between Scottsdale Road and 90th Street, and there is going to be six installations spread out evenly along there. There will be a 30-day period in which those caught speeding by the system will be mailed a warning citation advising them to slow down."
He continued, "Our hope is that we're able to gather enough data during the 30-day trial period to prove success. We're really jumping out in the lead on this and our hope is that other municipalities, and even the state, consider expanding this technology."
Doug Nintzel, the official spokesman for Arizona's Department of Transportation said that while other cities may be considering the possibility of installing photo radar, "No other municipalities have approached ADOT. Scottsdale is the only city thus far to have gone forward with this type of pilot project. We're taking this one step at a time and we would like to see the results of the pilot project before we speculate about any other use of photo radar on Arizona freeways."
Chris Lemka, a senior traffic engineer for the City of Glendale, says, "At this time there are no plans to install photo radar" on the parts of the 101 that pass through Glendale.
However, photo radar offers some rather alluring incentives that may entice Glendale officials to reconsider.
According to Clark, Scottsdale's traffic regulations enforcement system is a "self-sustaining program meaning that if there are no violations, then there is no program. Within four months the projections are that the initial, roughly $640,000, in start up fees, will be recouped into the city budget. It literally is a zero cost, zero profit, traffic enforcement tool that's actually quite effective."
