Politics & Government

St. Peters Aldermen May Change Ordinance to Ticket Owners if Vehicle Runs Red Light

The board will vote on the proposed change at the April 11 meeting.

St. Peters may soon begin ticketing vehicle owners caught running a red light even if they aren't behind the wheel.

During Thursday's meeting of the Board of Aldermen the board will be to change a red-light camera ordinance. The change would ticket the registered owner of the car that runs the red light instead of just the person behind the wheel.

According to the Suburban Jornals, the proposed change came after St. Peters Police officials asked City Attorney Randy Weber to recommend changes.  St. Peters police Major Jeff Finkelstein told the Journals the department asked the city attorney to look for changes because police found it hard to enforce the current law. St. Peters, which has had cameras since 2006, currently relies on on a photograph of the driver.

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The Suburban Jornals reports that Weber's proposal is based on an appellate court case, Creve Coeur vs. Nottebrook. As a result of that case, the Creve Coeur red-light ordinance puts the liability on the owner of the vehicle, even if the owner wasn't operating the vehicle at the time of the incident.

The proposed amendment, which will be voted on Thursday at the regular meeting, does prevent the owner from being ticketed if the vehicle or its license plates or tags had been reported stolen.

Find out what's happening in St. Peterswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

St. Peters added cameras to the McClay/Jungermann intersection in January. Currently the city has red-light cameras at:

  • Mexico Road at Cave Springs Boulevard
  • Mexico Road at Jungermann Road
  • Mexico Road at Spencer Road
  • Mid Rivers Mall Drive at Suemandy Road
  • Mid Rivers Mall Drive at Grand Teton Road eastbound
  • Mid Rivers Mall Drive at Grand Teton Road westbound
  • Mid Rivers Mall Drive at Willott Road
  • Jungermann Road at McClay Road


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