Sheriff keeps campaign promise; ends photo radar

In an era of empty campaign promises, one newly elected official is showing that he is a man of his word.

Newly elected Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu on his first day in office ended the enforcement of photo radar in Pinal County. “Photo radar is nothing more than a way for government to generate money off its citizens,” Babeu said.

The county, prior to Babeu deciding to ban the program, had three mobile radar units in northern Pinal County, snapping photos and generating income for local government. The outgoing sheriff, Chris Vasquez, had plans to roll out even more radar vans.

Previously, the county contracted with an Australian-based company, Redflex Traffic Systems, to provide photo enforcement equipment in exchange for a portion of the money the tickets generated.

“Redflex is just concerned about generating money and doesn’t care about the people it is taking it from,” Babeu said.

While Babeu has decided to end photo enforcement in Pinal County, that doesn’t mean its residents will no longer have a photo taken while driving on roads across the county.

The PCSO only has jurisdiction in unincorporated areas, on county islands and county roads. Photo radar in the county will cease to exist in these three places.

However, municipalities and entities that manage roads not maintained by the county, DPS for example, have the authority to maintain their photo enforcement, but it is unclear whether incoming Governor Jan Brewer will allow her state police chief to disregard the decision of Pinal County’s sheriff.

“It’s everywhere from Costco to going to church. ‘Get rid of that photo radar,'” Brewer told the Associated Press. “Everybody that I’ve spoken (with), other than two or three people, they don’t like it.”

Babeu said he is hoping others will follow his example in eliminating the speed enforcement radar.

“I think we need to maintain the red light cameras in the state because they are making a difference, but this speed radar has to go,” the sheriff said.

Submitted photo