A while back, the City of Rochester put in red light cameras.
We were assured they were for safety purposes, not to raise revenues.
And then we find out that the city budgeted (net of all expenses) $200,000 from the program (why they budgeted ANYTHING if it wasn't about the revenues...I'll never know) and they ended up collecting (after expenses) $600,000.
Which means that, IF they can be taken at their word that it isn't about the revenue, they will either be issuing refunds (roughly 66% of the amount paid on any given ticket seems right- make it 50% as it will involve some expenses to give the money back) OR note that the number of tickets issued exceeded expectations, and thus lower the price of the fines.
Unless of course they do neither of those things as (gasp) it really IS about the money? But if that were so...I'd be shocked, shocked I say, shocked.
-Zjabs (Rochester's Official Columnist)
© 2012 Zjabs - 5/10/12
