Editor’s Note: Former Redflex CEO, Karen Finley, just pleaded guilty in a federal bribery probe in Ohio. Finley admitted her involvement in a scheme to make campaign donations to officials in Columbus and Cincinnati in exchange for retaining Redflex’s red-light camera contracts. Finley also faces charges related to a $2 million bribery scheme involving the City of Chicago. We’re not surprised. The red-light camera industry has a long history of cozying up to government officials and police in exchange for preferential treatment, as this NMA blog from 2011 clearly documents.
The Corruption of Government Officials (and Police) by the Ticket Camera Industry
Money sometimes brings out the worst in people – even police officers and government officials – and it’s clearly happening in the case of red-light cameras.
One example is Lynnwood, Washington Deputy Police Chief Karen Manser asking American Traffic Solutions (ATS) for a job, even as she opened negotiations for the renewal of Lynnwood’s red-light camera contract with ATS.
Here is an excerpt from Manser’s letter to ATS:
Our city contract with ATS is set to expire in November. Let me know when you might be available to chat about it on the phone. I would like to get ahead of the game on getting it ready for renewal.
PS I saw the article in the AZ Republic a week or so ago that said the company is doing very well. I am looking for a job in AZ so I can move soon. If you have any idea if I might quality for something with ATS let’s talk.
Another officer actually offered to market on behalf of ATS in other states!
This post was published at Lew Rockwell on June 27, 2015.
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