Ask Sheriff Paul Babeu

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu will make an appearance at the CameraFRAUD booth at the Arizona State Fair tomorrow, Sunday October 25 at 2:00 PM.

Babeu, who ended a contract with ticketing vendor Redflex earlier this year, said that photo radar programs were “corrupting law enforcement.”

More recently, the Sheriff testified before the Globe City Council in strong opposition to automated ticketing.

Stop by and say hello!

Chandler PD: Exemplary Officers

CameraFRAUD would like to thank the Chandler Police Department and Sgt. Picquet for their professionalism and courtesy while ensuring public safety during today’s demonstration. Officers were at the location before we arrived, and actually left the immediate area to ensure that no one felt intimidated.

Sgt. Picquet exchanged phone numbers with a contact person at CameraFRAUD to ensure a line of communication in case of emergency. He thanked us for coming out and expressed the support the City of Chandler has for first amendment rights.

Chandler PD’s professionalism is in sharp contrast to the authoritarian intimidation tactics utilized in the past by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), the same agency which helps run the state’s profitable—and illegal—automated ticketing scheme.

In a related note, former Chandler PD veteren Paul Babeu was recently elected Sheriff in Pinal County, promptly ending automated ticketing.

Pinal County Photo Radar Contract Cancelled

(CameraFRAUD Tucson:)

During today’s Pinal County board of Supervisors meeting, Sheriff Paul Babeu presented to the board why Photo Radar should be banned in Pinal County. In a 3 to 0 vote, the Board agreed with the Sheriff and cancelled the Photo Radar contract with Redflex. Thank you Sheriff Babeu for your leadership on this issue!

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors will now formally send Redflex a notice of termination. Photo enforcement in Pinal County effectively ended on January 1st as one of Babeu’s first decisions in office. The program “shall not be resurrected,” according to the Sheriff.

One can only hope that the incoming Governor, who is being sworn in today, will do the same (…contact her here).

Photo Radar Ticketing Ends in Pinal County

Exclusive – Moments after being sworn in as Pinal County Sheriff, Paul Babeu spoke with CameraFRAUD regarding the fate of photo enforcement in his jurisdiction.

CF: Do you think Pinal County is going to be safer without photo enforcement?

“Yes. We actually met with Redflex, and through some of our discussions they knew very clearly that we were going to end photo radar in Pinal County.

I am against it, not only because I’m a strict Constitutionalist, but I believe… it’s driven to create money for the government. It’s corrupting law enforcement for us to be partnered with a private entity that creates revenue—clearly that’s their interest.”

Babeu continued, “I’ve never… seen a photo radar camera arrest a drunk driver or arrest a person with a warrant, see if someone has insurance, or to just simply give directions to somebody…

So I’m against it, we have ended photo radar for speeding. Photo radar’s last days are now behind us, because they ended on the 1^st of January.”

CF: How do you feel about the Department of Public Safety putting their roving… speed vans in Pinal County? Do you have any plans on trying to restrict them…?

“They are allowed to do that, that is their purview, but I am going to continue to speak out publicly. I’m hopeful that our new governor Jan Brewer will see this issue as it is…

I’ve seen in the last two, three weeks, not only because of [CameraFRAUD’s] efforts but so many citizens that have been speaking out. They’ve had enough.

We’re in a tough economy and at the same time the government is trying to create more revenue— people are trying to pay their bills and go to work so yes, this is an additional tax on hard working men and women.

So I’m hopeful that Jan Brewer ends photo radar statewide.”

Babeu did express support for red-light cameras, but did not mention any plans to implement such a system or expand any current deployments.

Pinal County Sheriff Candidate: “End Photo Radar”

Campaign signs for Pinal County Sheriff Candidate Paul Babeu appear to have been updated with a simple, clear message: “End Photo Radar.”

The signs are readily visible along Hunt Hwy from Queen Creek to the Johnson Ranch area.

Pinal County contracts with beleaguered Australian firm Redflex Group to operate an undisclosed number of photo scam vans. Earlier this year, Redflex Group was found to have violated Arizona State Law on numerous occasions regarding traffic ticket integrity.  Redflex is also facing a potential class-action lawsuit for alledgedly using electronic devices not approved for use in the United States.

More recently, a process server in Pinal County was found to have used a racial slur while attempting to serve a Redflex-generated citation. The event was caught on tape, and subsequently released to the media by CameraFRAUD.com.

Babeu is the second candidate this election to make photo enforcement a major part of his campaign, joining Mesa state rep candidate Joe Brown (I).

How Babeu intends to end photo radar remains unclear, although it is assumed that the Sheriff has the discretion to create or end certain projects.