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American Morning

Judge Boosts Opposition for Red Light Cameras

Aired September 05, 2001 - 09:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: About 50 cities around the country use those lights -- those cameras rather set up at red lights to catch those of you who speed through them. Well, those opposed to those cameras got a bit of a boost yesterday when a judge in San Diego dismissed nearly 300 tickets that had been issued to drivers caught by these devices.

Reporter Kim Edwards of our affiliate KGTV has the details now on the red light ruling.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIM EDWARDS, KGTV REPORTER (voice-over): A collective sigh of relief from hundreds of San Diegans facing steep fines after a judge dismissed their red light tickets.

JUDGE RONALD STYN, SAN DIEGO SUPERIOR COURT: Well, the prosecution's arguments have not persuaded the court to change its ruling.

EDWARDS: Judge Styn says city attorneys did not convince him that the evidence gathered by those cameras is reliable. Stem says, because the city contracted with a private firm, Lockheed Martin, to run the program and gave Lockheed a portions of the fine collected, that makes the evidence untrustworthy.

STYN: The court sees no difference between a contingent fee to private corporation and a contingent fee paid to an individual.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The motive has to be public safety, not profit.

EDWARDS: Defendants and their attorneys praised the judge's decision and still believe the red light camera system can be viable in San Diego.

CHRISTOPHER PLOURD, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: But they have to do it in a way that's consistent with the law and also with good, you know, scientific principles, and that's what wasn't done here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And our thanks to Kim Edwards of our affiliate KGTV for that report. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com