Red-light cameras’ future in Missouri dims

Big Brother is pulling out of Jefferson County. Or, depending on your opinion of red-light cameras, Jefferson County just became a lot more dangerous. That’s because American Traffic Solutions, the Arizona-based company that runs the cameras in Jefferson County and other Missouri communities, is pulling out of the suburban St. Louis county.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that ATS grew tired of newly elected County Council’s increasingly anti-camera leanings, the company said in a letter announcing the cancellation of the contract to the council. Citing the council’s repeal of the county red-light camera ordinance and supporting the camera ban that the state Legislature is considering, ATS decided it would rather quit than fight a losing battle. Hard to blame them. But they couldn’t leave without slapping elected officials with a little guilt.