A new traffic system that targets excessive speeders on Ridgeland's stretch of Interstate 95 with cameras and radar is officially up and running - with the first batch of tickets scheduled to go out in the mail this week.
After determining that a new state law that forbids unmanned cameras doesn't apply to Ridgeland's new iTraffic system, the town tested and then launched the program late last week.
Town leaders, county leaders and State Rep. Bill Herbkersman of Bluffton toured the mobile unit on Wednesday, which includes an RV where a Ridgeland police officer watches passing traffic from a median and the cameras and radar which are set up outside.
From a desk at the back of the RV, the officer watches the vehicles and real time information relayed by the equipment set up on tripods alongside the interstate appears on his computers.
Each time a vehicle passes, the speed is recorded, unless traffic is clumped too closely together. If a specific vehicle's speed is higher than the speed set in the system - at least 81 mph - the cameras take a photo of the driver and license plate and the speed is recorded.
The officer sees the photograph and determines if it is clear enough to make a positive identification of the driver. Unclear photos are scrapped and no tickets will be issued in those cases. No photos are taken if the driver is not going over the targeted speed, which is set by the officer.
If a photo is clear, the driver's image will be compared to a driver's license photo of the person who the car is registered to. If they match, a ticket will be sent to the driver's home. If they don't, no ticket will be issued.
"It's the same thing we've always done except you'll receive a ticket in the mail rather than one of my guys having to run you down and spend 15 minutes on the side of the interstate," said Ridgeland Police Chief Richard Woods. "It's a better way of providing service. I think 10 years from now it will be pretty common."
But it certainly isn't common yet. In fact, it's the first system of its type in the state and caused controversy among many lawmakers in Columbia, who passed an amendment earlier this year that some thought would kill the iTraffic program in Ridgeland.
Herbkersman was surprised by the setup, which he said didn't seem to mesh with what lawmakers were told before passing the ban on unmanned traffic cameras.
"This is way different than I thought," he said. "I think it's a little bit different than it was portrayed."
He said he still supports a ban on unmanned cameras but wanted to learn more - and still does - about the iTraffic system.
"I don't know enough about it, but it's a lot different," he said.
Town leaders hope the public will be impressed too and are planning two meetings to give people a chance to tour the RV, look at the equipment and voice their feelings.
The meetings will be held at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Ridgeland Town Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 17.
Town council members were impressed by the quality of photos of the drivers and how the system worked.
"It was much simpler than I thought it would be," said councilman Tommy Rhodes at last week's council meeting. "It's mistake proof."
Mayor Gary Hodges said there has been a lot of misinformation about the iTraffic system and wants to address those with anyone willing to listen.
While testing the system over eight days, the camera caught images of a number of speeders - some traveling over 100 mph.
One driver was recorded at 111 mph.
In most cases, the drivers' photographs are so clear one can read their expressions, especially at night.
"It's all clear as a bell," Rhodes said. "People can be against it, but they should be against it with the right information, not misinformation."
Hodges said the town spends more than $1 million each year for emergency response on the interstate, including police, fire and EMS. He thinks excessive speeders causing the problems should foot that bill rather than the town's citizens.
Most money from tickets goes to the state. The portion that stays in the town will be split between iTraffic and the town. The town will handle all money from citations.
About 50,000 vehicles pass through Ridgeland's stretch of interstate - 7.3 miles in each direction - every day but only about 2 percent are excessively speeding, he said.
"It probably won't impact 98 percent," of traffic, he said, and very few locals.
Citizen Milton Woods applauded the town for trying to improve safety but cautioned council members to be careful about perception.
"We might be taking this money in but we certainly don't want to hurt our businesses," he said. "I think we should do everything possible to have a positive approach and positive advertisement."
Hodges agreed.
"Our new motto will be ‘Welcome to Ridgeland, the safest town in South Carolina.'"
Ridgeland Town Administrator Jason Taylor said the system officially began recording speeders late last week and those tickets are expected to be sent out later this week.