Polk County Judge Upholds Red-Light Safety Camera Violations

On February 26, 2015, Polk County Judge Robert Grode, of Florida’s 10^thJudicial Circuit, upheld a red-light running violation issued through the City of Lakeland’s red-light safety camera program and ordered the defendant to pay the fine. After a thorough review of the protocols established by Lakeland, the judge determined that the recent City of Hollywood v. Arem decision issued by the state’s Fourth District Court did not apply.

“I think in this case, it’s very clear the City of Lakeland has set out very clear standards for a third-party vendor to follow; and failure to follow that means that the third-party vendor is no longer going to be doing that work,” Judge Grode said in court transcripts. 

In reviewing the vendor’s role in the violation process, Judge Grode said the evidence and information presented in the City of Lakeland v. Robert Meador case indicate the vendor’s role to be a “ministerial or secretarial function.” He went on to distinguish this role from a decision-maker’s role. Lakeland’s red-light safety camera vendor is American Traffic Solutions.

ATS General Counsel George Hittner said Judge Grode’s decision affirms the clear distinction in responsibilities between vendor and client.

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