Pasco approves plan to install red light cameras

Pasco Police will soon have a new tool to help keep roads safer in the city.

City council this week approved the installation of red light cameras at two intersections known for being the site of accident caused by running red lights.

A private company will manage the cameras, to include mailing out tickets for those who run the lights.

For now, the cameras will be installed on Road 68 at Burden Boulevard, and Court Street at 20th. If the Pasco Police Department wants to add more enforcement cameras, council would have to approve the location of each.

"We have a dangerous intersection that is going to get more dangerous," said Councilman Craig Maloney at Monday night's meeting. "We're building more houses, we're building more commercial. Traffic will be increasing, it will not be decreasing."

Council voted 5 to 1 to pass an ordinance allowing the red light cameras,.

"We want to put some parameters in place to ensure public safety, that our kids in school zones are safe. I understand that there's accidents. I'm just not convinced at this point that the cameras are going to prevent accidents," said Saul Martinez, who cast the lone dissenting vote.

The city will review the effectiveness of the cameras in about a year.