KANSAS CITY – Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says much needs to be done yet before red light cameras are back in spots across the city.
A 2013 decision from the Missouri Supreme Court got rid of the cameras in the state because the technology at the time only captured the license plate, with no confirmation of who was actually driving the car.
Then more than a decade later, with new camera technology, the Kansas City City Council took issue up once again early this fall, this time voting 10 to 1 to bring the cameras back to Kansas City streets.
Approval from the Board of the Police Commissioners is the final hurdle before they reinstall the cameras, expected in the spring. Before that happens, Mayor Lucas says much needs to be done in the background, with attorneys, city officials and the police department all part of those final discussions. You can hear the mayor’s update here:
The ordinance is similar to one passed in St. Louis earlier this year, partnering with a company that claims they have addressed the issue of not knowing who the driver is. The new cameras will not only capture a picture of the offender’s license plate, but a picture of the front of the vehicle as well, hoping to get a clear image of the driver.