East Ridge again eyes traffic cameras

East Ridge officials again are considering a plan to bring photo-enforcing traffic cameras to town.

The plan was placed on tonight's City Council agenda but was pulled so city leaders could modify the ordinance's language.

In March 2008 city leaders approved the plan, which would scatter mobile and fixed cameras throughout the city. Council members could cast their final vote on the plan at their Dec. 10 meeting, city manager William Whitson said.

"We continue to hear concerns from the public about speed and safety," Mr. Whitson said. "Since it was first read back in 2008, the city attorney and the police chief want to review the wording one more time."

Earlier this year, the council made the speed limit along the city's principal traffic corridor, Ringgold Road, a uniform 35 mph. The traffic-camera ordinance will focus mostly on roads off Ringgold Road, Mayor Mike Steele said, though Ringgold Road likely will have cameras, too.

"The speeding problem isn't really on Ringgold Road," Mr. Steele said. "The problem we've been presented with lies on the roads that cut from Ringgold Road into Georgia."

Families complain about speeders on those residential routes, he said, and the city simply can't afford to station police cruisers there for long periods of time.

Mr. Whitson said the cameras will allow some cushion as far as the speed limit is concerned, but they will hold motorists responsible.

"We would install the cameras and set them to issue tickets when drivers exceed the speed by a factor of 7, 8, 9 mph," Mr. Whitson said. "We want to give some cushion, but if you speed, you need to be held accountable."

In Chattanooga, cameras for speeding and running traffic lights result in $50 tickets. The tickets do not count as moving violations, so they do not affect motorists' insurance rates.

The city of Red Bank also has red-light and speed cameras.

East Ridge leaders have not set a price for their camera-generated tickets.

In other business at tonight's council meeting, East Ridge leaders will hear more about plans for the city to implement a biodiesel program that will convert used cooking oil to a diesel fuel additive.