Monteagle Votes Down Unmanned Traffic Cameras
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
After lengthy discussion at the special called July 17 meeting, the Monteagle Council voted not to adopt an ordinance allowing unmanned traffic cameras. The council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance regulating stormwater runoff.
In discussion, the council concurred Police Chief William Raline proposed the unmanned cameras for use in school zones. The ordinance as written allowed the cameras “pretty much anywhere,” acknowledged Vice Mayor Nate Wilson.
Resident Tony Gilliam objected to the cameras, arguing people would take the interstate and bypass the town, citing the example of Smyrna which earned the reputation of being a speed trap. “Putting cameras in is going to hurt Monteagle,” Gilliam said.
“[Using cameras] is more efficient than the radar mechanism,” observed Mayor Greg Maloof.
Wilson explained the unmanned traffic camera had two components, radar and a license plate reader. The license plate reader could also be used to apprehend criminal suspects, but the reader would need to be programmed to alert to the suspect’s license plate number.
“We have interstate traffic on both ends of the town and at any point someone with dire interests could come into our town … this [unmanned camera mechanism] is a heightened level of security,” said Alderman Dan Sargent. “The council has the discretion to keep it where we set it to be.”
The ordinance as written did not give the council the authority to decide where to put the cameras, Wilson pointed out.
Maloof said the town’s attorney drafted the ordinance based on the information received from the company offering the service.
“My interpretation when it was presented to us [by Chief Raline] was for use in school zones Monday through Friday for extra income for the police department,” said Alderwoman Dorraine Parmley. “I’m all about the police department. I love our police department, but I’m not ready to vote on the camera thing … I’m not going to think about a camera, but when I see that police car I’m automatically going to slow down.”
“Visibility is crucial,” said resident Katie Trahan.
Wilson said Monteagle’s goal was to have two police officers per shift. “We don’t have the budget for that.” Wilson noted Monteagle spent more on policing than most towns its size, a circumstance justified by the two interstate exits resulting in the town dealing with issues not present in other small towns; and by the town being in three counties making arrest and prosecution of criminal suspects more difficult.
Wilson conceded he failed to recall Chief Raline’s rationale for the camera’s economic benefit to the town. When an officer ticketed a speeder, the town received 100 percent of the fine, but when the camera ticketed a speeder, the town only received a percentage, Wilson observed. He suggested Raline attend the next council meeting to explain the cameras’ benefits.
In the vote on the unmanned cameras, Sargent remained silent.
The stormwater runoff ordinance applies to multiphase projects, such as subdivisions, larger than one acre. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regulated runoff during construction, Wilson said, but TDEC did not regulate runoff post construction. The ordinance stipulates post-construction runoff must match the preconstruction runoff. For example, if impervious surfaces increase the runoff, retention ponds must be created to contain it. Maloof said developers had raised questions about whether Monteagle had a stormwater ordinance. Wilson explained the need for the ordinance resulted from so much of the town being in the Laurel Lake watershed which was the town’s only drinking water supply.