The Greeley Tribune reports that Windsor will soon install red-light cameras at intersections around town in an attempt to “make streets safer.” The first installation will cover all four directions at 7th Street and Main Street, with more intersections planned later. Vehicles caught running red lights – or turning right without a full stop – will get a $75 citation. Windsor police claim they will review each violation before mailing the fine, and the town has partnered with Verra Mobility to operate the system.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Windsor launching red-light camera program, starting at 7th & Main
- Each ticket: $75 fine mailed to violators
- Verra Mobility contracted to run the system
- Town officials say it’s about “safety,” not revenue – where have we heard that before?
My Bottom Line
Come on, Windsor! You’ve hopped aboard the constitutionally questionable “automated enforcement revenue train.” Did citizens rise up in mass outrage demanding more cameras? Were town halls packed with residents begging for Big Brother to take more pictures of their license plates? Of course not.
Let’s be honest: these systems aren’t about safety – they’re about revenue. Cities love to dress them up in the language of public safety, but anyone who’s been paying attention knows the playbook. A private company (in this case, Verra Mobility) installs and manages the cameras, splits the take with the municipality, and suddenly, the town coffers fill with “fee” money that doesn’t technically count as a tax. It’s government’s favorite game: collect cash without calling it what it is.
Colorado’s constitution and several court rulings have raised serious questions about the legality of these automated enforcement schemes. They violate due process, presume guilt, and often leave vehicle owners paying for someone else’s alleged infraction. And yet, towns keep doing it – because it’s easy money.
The irony is thick: Colorado municipalities claim they’re broke, then spend taxpayer dollars partnering with out-of-state corporations to photograph and fine their own citizens. And for what? To “make streets safer”? There’s no conclusive evidence these systems actually reduce accidents. In fact, studies in other cities have shown an increase in rear-end collisions as drivers slam their brakes at yellow lights to avoid getting tagged.
So here we are – Windsor, the latest town to trade public trust for ticket revenue. Maybe next they’ll sell naming rights to intersections: “The Verra Mobility Memorial Roundabout,” sponsored by the Windsor Department of Unconstitutional Revenue.
Citizens deserve real safety solutions – better engineering, smarter light timing, targeted patrols – not another “gotcha” camera feeding a bloated system.
