By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
The red light camera fad continues to unravel in the Garden State, Save Jerseyans.
State Senator Michael Doherty (R-23) wants an investigation in the wake of seismic allegations that New Jersey local officials received bribes from Redflex Traffic Systems, a leading company installing and operating red light camera systems in New Jersey which exist pursuant to a pilot program due to expire at the end of this year.
Opposition is accelerating following the federal indictment of former Redflex CEO Karen Finley and others accused of perpetrating a $2 million bribery scheme in Chicago. A lawsuit filed by Aaron Rosenberg, a former Redflex executive vice president and salesman, contained the Jersey-centric allegations. According to the Star-Ledger, Rosenberg claims his former employer “bestowed gifts and bribes” in states including our own. Doherty, a consistent opponent of the red light program, says this news is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
“When a senior insider comes forward to say that red light camera companies are influencing local officials not with statistics proving safety benefits, but with gifts that are almost certainly illegal, we must take action,” said Doherty in a statement released by the Senate GOP office. “I call on the Attorney General to investigate the claims of Aaron Rosenberg that Redflex engaged in bribery in New Jersey to secure contracts for its red light camera systems.”
N.J. towns have increasingly turned away from red light cameras as questions arose as to their accuracy and fairness.
“Nearly five years into our state’s pilot program, we still have no proof that red light cameras make dangerous intersections safer,” Doherty continued. “We have growing proof, however, that the local interest in red light cameras is almost entirely about money, as I and others have long claimed. Considering the recent federal indictments, the lingering allegations by Aaron Rosenberg should be thoroughly investigated to find out if anyone in New Jersey accepted bribes from Redflex.”
Click here if you want to sign the Senator’s petition to ban them all for good.