CITY DELAYS ANY ACTION ON VIDEOTAPING UNTIL 2001

Red-light runners in Cape Girardeau can continue to flout the law, at least temporarily, as city officials Monday night postponed a decision to install video surveillance at one intersection.

After extensive discussion of the video system -- which records red-light runners for citation -- at three previous meetings, the Cape Girardeau City Council opted to delay any action until next year.

"We'll give this matter a rest until after the first of the year, when we may revisit it," Mayor Albert Spradling said.

The council is divided on whether the videotaping system will benefit the city. Some members say they would like time to do more research on the system and the other communities that use it.

The videotaping system, known as automated red-light technology, is a set of video cameras designed to tape only drivers who are in the process of running red lights.

In addition to recording the drivers, the system also delays cross traffic while the offense is in progress to try to avoid collisions.

The system allows police to ticket vehicle owners without being present at the intersection.

The system tapes a five-second clip only when it senses that a driver is going too fast or has not slowed in time to stop for a red light.

Police can review the clips to determine if there were extenuating circumstances causing a driver to run a red light. Vehicle owners who have been issued a citation also can review the clip and protest the citation.

Councilman Frank Stoffregen Monday expressed dismay at ticketing vehicle owners instead of drivers.

Police department representatives who were present said the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles is not set up to allow local police to cross-reference video clips of drivers with state driver's license records.