Woodlands red-light cameras remain in limbo

The operator of the Montgomery County traffic camera enforcement system has started shelling out around $200,000 in fine reimbursements to motorists due to a technicality that caused officials to partially shut the system down.

Language in the contract between Montgomery County and camera system operator, RedFlex, required a traffic study before the company could activate its five newest red-light cameras located at three intersections in The Woodlands beginning March 29.

After it was discovered that the traffic study was either missing or not done, Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable Tim Holifield ordered those cameras be shut off effective June 27 until one is completed.

"It's required that (a traffic study) is completed under state law," Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commission Ed Chance said.

Holifield could not be reached for comment.

The red-light camera locations that are affected are at the following intersections:

More Information Red-light cameras The red-light traffic cameras at the five newest sites in The Woodlands are shut down until traffic studies are completed. Those who paid a fine for a violation from one of the five new cameras between March 29 and June 27 will receive a full refund. The red-light camera locations that are affected are at the following intersections: Southbound west Panther Creek: at Woodlands Parkway Northbound north Panther Creek: at Woodlands Parkway Southbound Pinecroft: at Lake Woodlands Drive Southbound Six Pines: at Woodlands Parkway Westbound Woodlands Parkway: at Six Pines. Other locations still in operation are: Westbound Kuykendahl: at Woodlands Parkway Southbound Woodlands Parkway: at Kuykendahl Southbound Woodloch Forest Drive: at Woodlands Parkway Westbound Woodlands Parkway: at Panther Creek Eastbound Gosling Road: at Lake Woodlands Drive

1 Southbound West Panther Creek at Woodlands Parkway;

1 Northbound North Panther Creek at Woodlands Parkway;

1 Southbound Pinecroft at Lake Woodlands Drive;

1 Southbound Six Pines at Woodlands Parkway;

1 Westbound Woodlands Parkway at Six Pines.

Chance said the study is part of the county's engineering report, and he would be surprised if there was never one done. He said county officials are researching whether one was ever done, and if so, what happened to it.

The discovery was made after a red-light violator appealed his fine and asked for the traffic study, officials said.

The error means that motorists who paid fines for red-light violations from one of the five new cameras since March 29, can expect to get a full refund from RedFlex, Chance said. "We're looking to get (the study) completed sometime over the next three or four weeks," he said in mid July.

Chance was uncertain how much would go back to motorists, but estimated it is about $200,000. RedFlex charges $75 per red light violation. The Arizona-based company has contracted with the county since 2007 to operate the camera system. The county pays RedFlex about $4,600 a month for each camera it uses. There are 10 cameras in The Woodlands.

RedFlex spokeswoman Andrea Aker said the company does not conduct the traffic studies. "Each municipality within Montgomery Country is responsible for conducting studies at their respective sites," Aker said.

RedFlex contracts with more than 250 municipalities across the country with camera enforcement including Conroe. Aker said she was unaware of any other municipality having to stop services because of a missing traffic study. The temporary stoppage comes one year after Chance threatened to pull the plug on the program for a different reason. Chance was upset that the county was divvying out more to RedFlex that what was coming in, and there was around $90,000 in uncollected fines. In 2010, the county collected about $316,000 while spending $408,000 to fund the camera system, according to the auditor's office.

The dispute over collecting old fines was put to rest after officials from both sides proposed more efficient ways of collecting fees including taking advantage of a state law that allows municipalities to tie old fines together with vehicle registration renewal. The talks eventually led to a five-year contract extension in November.

Aker said the blip will not affect the long-term contract with the county.

"We have experienced a very good working relationship with the county and look forward to growing this relationship in the future," Aker said.

Nicklaus Lovelady can be reached at njlovelady@gmail.com