December 27, 2013 / Modified dec 27, 2013 8:47 a.m.

Proposal to Ban Traffic Cameras Gets New Try in Tucson

Former legislator Kromko says his 'Traffic Justice' group has gathered nearly 3,700 signatures, needs 12,700.

A group opposed to traffic enforcement cameras in Tucson has begun a new petition drive to put the issue on the November 2014 election ballot.

Tucson Traffic Justice, formed by former state legislator John Kromko, has gathered 3,672 signatures so far, Kromko said in an email press announcement Thursday. The group needs 12,700 signatures, according to the group's website, www.TucsonTrafficJustice.com.

Kromko led an effort earlier this year to put the measure on last month's city election ballot, but the petitions were rejected by city officials as lacking enough valid registered voter signatures.

The effort fell short because many of the signatures were from voters who lived outside of city limits, Kromko acknowledged.

His press announcement said he was leading the effort to ask voters to decide on a ban of cameras that capture the license plate numbers of motorists who run red lights and speed because they "do not increase safety."

On the website, the group claims the city's primary goal with the cameras is to increase revenue rather than promote traffic safety.

"In a period of budget cuts and economic decline, the tickets ... provide the city with much-needed revenue," the website statement says. "The problem is the trickery and manipulation involved in the process."

City officials have said statistics show significantly fewer crashes at the eight intersections where the red-light cameras have been installed.

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