Vendor Fight Stalls Red-Light Cameras

Mayor To Decide If Bidding Process Should Begin Again

HOUSTON — A fight over which company should be given the city’s contract for red-light cameras has stalled the project, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.Four companies are vying for the contract, which would install red-light enforcement cameras at more than 50 intersections in the Houston area.

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Former Houston City Councilman Bert Keller got the attention of the council’s committee on public safety and homeland security. He is a stakeholder in a vendor called Nestor Traffic Systems that came in third after a month-long trial period that was overseen by the Houston Police Department.”I got notification during the demo or right before the demo that it wasn’t going to be front-plate capture,” Keller said.He convinced committee members that his vendor was hurt by critical changes made during the trial period. Police admitted making changes.”When we put out the RFP, we did request a front license plate,” said Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo, with the Houston Police Department.Montalvo said that now the cameras will only capture rear license plates.Some committee members did not think that was fair and recommended starting over with the four vendors.”We’re the hometown team and we got treated like the stuff that’s on the floor at the rodeo,” Keller said..American Traffic Solutions came in first place.”We believe it was a level playing field, we won and they didn’t like the outcome,” said Jim Tuton, with American Traffic Solutions.Darryl Carter represents a vendor called ACS. He hopes to gain ground.”I think our chances are just as they were last time,” he said.”I’ve been through this before. People have cried foul and we’ll make a decision next week,” Houston Mayor Bill White said.White said he would review the comments and suggestions from the committee and decide if the bidding process should start all over again.Vehicle owners whose car is caught running red lights by the camera will receive a ticket in the mail ranging from $75 to $150.

Tagged with: Vendor Fight Stalls Red-Light Cameras

Filed under: Houston Redlight Camera News

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