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Council approves three-year automated traffic enforcement contract to target red-light running and speeding
Summary
Bend City Council authorized a three-year contract with Verra Mobility for automated photo enforcement at intersections and selected corridors; staff will begin with four camera sites and a 30-day warning period before citations start.
The Bend City Council approved a three-year contract with Verra Mobility (American Traffic Solutions, Inc.) to install and operate an automated traffic enforcement program aimed at reducing red-light running and speeding at high-risk intersections. Council moved and seconded the contract during the meeting; the vote was recorded as unanimous.
Why it matters: City staff and the police department described automated enforcement as a complement to engineering and traditional enforcement, intended to change driver behavior and reduce severe crashes. Police Chief Mike Granson said photo enforcement reduces violations at intersections and in surrounding areas, citing anecdotal reductions in speeds and collisions from similar programs.
Scope and rollout: The contract is written for up to 10 camera systems, with an initial launch of four sites for installation and activation. Staff proposed starting sites at Reed Market westbound at Third Street, 20th Street and Neff Street, and Powers at Business 97 (southbound). Verra Mobility will handle installation, maintenance and the permitting process; staff estimated roughly six months for installation and activation, depending on permitting and right-of-way approvals. Each camera system is treated as a unit in the contract; intersections with multiple approaches may require multiple systems.
Operations and staffing: The city said the program is intended to be approximately revenue-neutral over time. The police department has budgeted additional staffing tied to rollout: one traffic sergeant (authorized in 2024 and to be filled), two automated-traffic-enforcement agent positions approved in the 2025–27 budget, and a likely municipal-court FTE to handle increased calendar needs. A 30-day educational warning period will precede citation issuance; the city will post signage and publish system locations.
Mobile and future options: The contract allows for mobile units and for expansion of camera sites later, including school, construction and residential speed enforcement where state law allows. Staff noted some city-priority locations fall on Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) rights of way and would require separate coordination and approvals from ODOT, which can lengthen the timeline for those locations.
Vote: Council authorized the agreement as presented and the city manager may renew the contract per its terms; the motion was moved by Councilor Megan Perkins, seconded by Councilor Mike Riley and approved unanimously.
