Citizen Staff Writer
RENÉE SCHAFER HORTON
rshorton@tucsoncitizen.com
Lead-foot motorists in unincorporated Pima County might want to mend their ways soon, because 10 new photo-enforcement cameras are slated to be operational within the next month.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is launching the one-year pilot program in collaboration with the county Department of Transportation, according to Deputy Dawn Barkman, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.
“We hope to get them all up by the end of March, but it depends on the construction schedule,” Barkman said. “Some may be up a little later than that.”
The program was approved by the county Board of Supervisors earlier this year, Barkman said, and enforcement sites were chosen based on vehicle-crash data from January 2007 through October 2008.
That data showed there were more than 7,000 reported motor vehicle crashes in unincorporated Pima County and nearly half involved speeding.
Of the fatal crashes, 63 percent involved speeding, with 36 percent of the fatalities involving speeds of 20 miles or more above the posted limit.
There will be a seven day warning period once the cameras are operational, Barkman said. During that time, cameras will take photos and video of speeding motorists, but citations will not be issued. Instead, warning notices will be sent to the vehicle’s registered owner.
After the warning period, citations and fines will be issued to anyone exceeding the speed limit by 11 miles per hour.
The photo-enforcement cameras will be in the following areas:
• Valencia Road near Wilmot Road
• Ina Road near Camino de Fosforo
• Ruthrauff Road near Calle Reina
• South Nogales Highway at East Hermans Road
• Mission Road near Nebraska Street
• Swan Road near Calle Barril
• Valencia Road near Camino de la Tierra
• Alvernon Way near Stationmaster Drive
• La Cholla Boulevard near Fountains Avenue
• River Road near Camino Boscaje
County speed cameras to be up by end of March