Playing Dodgeball with State Law
ATS does its best to dodge Missouri Sunshine Law and includes No Agency language
in their contracts in an attempt to circumvent Missouri public disclosure requirements.
ATS believes they
are exempt from the Missouri Sunshine Law
The following is a "Confidential" document that was obtained legally through a sunshine request. The document is a contract that represents the City of Arnold and red light camera company, ATS. I find it curious that a city would classify as confidential, such a contract. The public has a right to know how their government is spending their tax dollars and transacting the people's business. LINK to City of Arnold, red light camera contract.
On page 8 of 15, line number 15, you will see the "No Agency" clause. "This contract is not intended to create an agency relationship between ATS and The City."
It is not in the best interest of the citizen to allow a non agency relationship between red light companies and municipalities for obvious reasons. When private companies cross over into government operations (law enforcement, for example) and large sums of money is involved, the public has a right to know any and all transactions and relationships between such companies and a city.
Additionally, it should be clearly articulated in each contract how long intersection lights will be in a yellow phase, with count down lights clearly visible to the motorist. No one should have to guess how long a light will remain yellow.
Link to Jefferson County red light camera contract. For the pertinent page, go to page 4 of 15, 17. No Agency. (You will note that almost the exact same language was used in both contracts.)
ATS Corruption
ATS approached former Missouri officials in 2005 looking to gain a foothold in the Photo-Enforcement racket. Chad Garrison of the Riverfront Times, a St. Louis Alternative Paper, writes what is the most insightful and comprehensive article to date on how this scam started in Missouri.
Reading Chad’s chronology of the early days of Missouri Photo-Enforcement is vital to understanding how ATS came to Missouri and used political influence, browbeating, and promises of revenue to get us to where we are today. See the article here: http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2006-02-01/news/red-light-green-light
The scam includes players such as a former County Police Chief, a South City Democratic King Maker and former Chief of Staff for Dick Gephardt, and the Mayor of the City of St. Louis. There is a common theme through most ATS contractual discussions, which is that ATS usually drafts their own RFP, which intentionally excludes competitor systems. So, not only do they sell an illegal system, they colluded with both the City of St. Louis as well as the City of Arnold to rig the bid process to prevent competition. If that were not bad enough, ATS regularly, through the use of 3rd Parties and even their own employees, funds the political campaigns of local municipal officials who install these systems.
There is an extensive network of contributions from Photo Enforcement related entities to municipal and state officials, judicial officials, and political action committees all to the ultimate ends on purchasing local governments wholesale and keeping these illegal cash cows grazing. Who knew safety was so profitable?
Fake Websites - Scamera Firms have no Shame
In 2009, at the height of the Missouri Legislative Session, a new group called Missouri Families for Safer Roads was unveiled. A slick website, with testimonials and video appeared. A press conference was even held. This group was so "Top Secret" that even Hazelwood Police Chief Carl Wolf, Group President, did not know who was funding the group, but was certain that it is was not American Traffic Solutions, the #1 Scamera vendor in the state of Missouri. Watch the video as he weaves and dodges the questions St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter Jake Wagman asks with regard to funding for this "Top Secret" Group here:
The Chief seems like he should be a trustworthy guy being a police chief and all, however, upon investigation, it seems his claims just do not hold water. In fact, his statement looks to be an out and out lie. It appears MoSaferRoads.com is one of among almost 30 websites all created by a firm called Advarion LLC at the request of American Traffic solutions. List of Front Groups
In addition to this evidence, the Media Spokesman for Missouri Families for Safer Roads is none other than Scott Charton, who just so happens to also be an employee at American Traffic Solutions. source
So, either it is a complete coincidence that the 2 organizations have employees by the very same name or, the more likely explanation being that Missouri Families for Safer Roads is an ATS front group.
As if that evidence were not damning enough, it seems Nicholas Frey, an attorney for Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP, the very same legal firm that American Traffic Solutions uses, filed the annual report for the group, late and under threat of revocation. The report lists Chief Carl Wolf of Hazelwood, Chief Clifton Ware of Country Club Hills, and Member and former Chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, William (Bill) McKenna as the Board of Directors. source
