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

    Sakege Posted on

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    You may have noticed the traffic cameras while driving through Goodyear, taking extra caution not to rush through that yellow light.

    But images from those traffic cameras can currently only be viewed in real time: the images are not recorded or saved.

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

    Goodyear cameras will soon record video images that could help the city maintain road safety by being available to police during crash and accident investigations.

    According to the city Traffic Master PlanThere were 3,965 crashes between 2017 and 2021. These occurred primarily 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 the news for one fatal accident in February 2023when a driver crashed into a group of cyclists on South Cotton Bridge Lane, killing two and injuring 19 others. At the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Triennial Road Safety Plan For 2024-2026, bicycle and pedestrian safety is cited as a top priority.

    Between 2018 and 2022, there was one death involving a cyclist in Goodyear, although four more occurred in 2023. According to the report, crashes involving cyclists and pedestrians have increased significantly in Goodyear. However, that is also a state and national problem.

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

    In Phoenix: Red light cameras are back

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

    Money for the project is currently available in the budget and would amount to about $300,000 for the storage needed for the footage. That’s a three-year subscription, Scinto said. Since the city already has traffic cameras, no money will be spent buying new ones.

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

    Councilwoman Vicki Gillis initially supported the implementation of recording after discovering that, despite the presence of cameras, they were not actually recording. But adopting 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 emphasized that there is no right to privacy when you are out in public and in the community.

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

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

    Under policy, city engineering staff will only have access to the images. However, there are times when the Police Department may access images for specific uses.

    The images would be used for traffic operations and police investigations. In addition to assisting in traffic investigations, it can also help the city identify any traffic problems.

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

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

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

    Sakege
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