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    • Goodyear traffic cameras will start recording
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    Goodyear traffic cameras will start recording

    Online Niel Posted on

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    You may have noticed the traffic cameras while driving through Goodyear, exercising extra care not to run for that yellow light.

    But the footage from those traffic cameras can currently only be viewed in real time: the footage is not recorded and saved.

    That’s about to change, thanks to unanimous support from the Goodyear City Council last week.

    Goodyear’s cameras will soon record video footage that could help the city maintain road safety by being available to police during accident investigations.

    According to the city Traffic Master Planthere were 3,965 crashes between 2017 and 2021. They mostly occurred at major intersections along McDowell Road, Van Buren Street, Estrella Parkway and Litchfield Road.

    The number of accidents has increased slightly over the years, with 736 in 2017 and 905 in 2021.

    But relatively speaking, Goodyear has fewer accidents compared to the rest of the Valley. According to the Maricopa Association of Governments’ top 100 intersections, ranked by crash risk, none of Goodyear’s intersections made the list.

    The city made headlines for one fatal accident in February 2023when a driver ran into a group of bicyclists on South Cotton Bridge Lane, killing two and injuring 19. In the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety The Triennial Highway Safety Plan for 2024-2026, cyclist and pedestrian safety is listed as a top priority.

    Between 2018 and 2022, there was one fatality involving a bicyclist in Goodyear, although four more occurred in 2023. According to the report, crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians increased significantly in Goodyear. However, this is a nationwide and national issue.

    Phoenix also recently announced the implementation of red light cameras as a way to increase safety with a shortage of police officers.

    In Phoenix: Red light cameras are back

    Goodyear City Engineer Steve Scinto presented to the City Council after a discussion in May during a City Council work session. No action is taken during work sessions, although they give the Board an opportunity to have discussions before making a decision. The May meeting also included discussions about license plate registration and Glendale’s Real Time Crime Center.

    The money for the project is currently in the budget and would be around $300,000 for the storage needed for filming. This is a three-year subscription, Scinto said. Because the city already has cameras, the money will not be spent on purchasing new ones.

    The cameras will not be pointed at anyone’s homes or yards and will only be pointed at the city right-of-way.

    Councilor Vicki Gillis was initially in support of implementing the recording after discovering that despite the presence of the cameras, they were not actually recording. But passing the policy will serve as a way to protect both police officers and the public. Gillis made it clear that the cameras would not be used to invade anyone’s privacy.

    Councilwoman Sheri Lauritano also pointed out that there is no right to privacy when in public and in the community.

    “We make sure we don’t violate anyone’s privacy,” Lauritano said. “We’re not looking at their houses or anything like that. I want to be very clear about that.”

    The City Council specifically approved a policy governing the operation and recording of traffic camera footage, Scinto said.

    According to policy, city engineering staff will only have access to the footage. However, there are times when the Police Department will be able to access footage for specific uses.

    The images will be used for traffic operations and police investigations. In addition to helping with traffic investigations, it can also help the city identify any traffic issues.

    For retention policies, Scinto said the city evaluated the practices of other cities and determined that footage would be available for 14 days, according to state guidelines. But if the police use the footage, it will change availability to at least six months.

    Implementation will begin in November and be completed by the end of fiscal year 2025.

    Contact the reporter at [email protected] or by phone at 480-259-8545. Follow her on X, ex-Twitter: @AlexandraHardle.

    Online Niel
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