Layton has authorized the use of photo radar to catch speeders along U.S. 89, becoming the fifth Utah city to use the controversial device.
The radar device links a camera to a radar system and snaps photographs of the front and rear license plates of speeding cars, as well as closeups of the drivers. Speeders receive tickets in the mail days later.Following a public hearing, the Layton City Council Thursday night adopted a resolution that authorizes the city to enter into a one-year contract with the TST Company for photo radar on U.S. 89, a busy highway along the east border of Davis County that has been the scene of numerous accidents.
According to Alex Jensen, city manager, the actual contract with TST could come back to the City Council for final approval as early as Dec. 2 and the radar could be in operation by January.
The approval follows three years of work by Doyle Talbot, Layton police chief, to study photo radar and push for its approval as a way to slow traffic on U.S. 89.
"Speed kills, it's still the number one accident factor," Talbot said, explaining that eight to 10 percent of all drivers on U.S. 89 through Layton exceed the posted speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more.
Talbot hopes photo radar can drop the percentage of speeding drivers to two percent because the combined but limited manpower of the Layton police, Utah Highway Patrol and Davis County Sheriff's Department has not been able to get drivers to slow down on U.S. 89.
Photo radar will be used 16 hours a week on U.S. 89 for one year and then the City Council will re-evaluate its effectiveness. Talbot said signs warning of photo radar's use on the road would be posted as the council directs, but he believes that even flashing lights on the photo radar van will not slow many drivers. He said photo radar would issue warnings for the first three weeks of operation.
The system will not cost the city outright because the radar company will take a portion of the speeding fines. Layton received approximately $107,000 in all city fines last year and that amount could decrease slightly next year because of the photo radar company receiving a $16.25 share of each speeding fine. A Layton policeman would be stationed in the radar van and that doesn't represent extra manpower because the city already patrols the highway.
The city also has an option to use photo radar in other parts of the city, but U.S. 89 is the main focus. Talbot said statistics from West Valley City show a 30 percent drop in accidents with photo radar.
During the public hearing, two citizens spoke out against photo radar, while two thought it was a good idea.
Layton will join West Valley City, Garland, Huntington and Wellington as a user of photo radar in the state.