D.C. insiders lobby for cameras

The company in charge of the District’s red-light and speed cameras has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to a former city official and a major D.C. political donor to win city officials’ support for the program, government records show.

Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) and its predecessor, Lockheed Martin IMS, have hired Kerry Pearson LLC, which is owned by lobbyist and political consultant Kerry Pearson and Group 360 LLC, founded by Max Brown. Mr. Pearson has worked as a D.C. Council fund-raiser, and Mr. Brown is the former deputy chief of staff and legal counsel to D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams.

Together, the lobbyists have earned nearly $500,000 from ACS since 2001, according to the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance filings.

ACS said last week that it paid the lobbyists to educate people on the safety benefits of speed and red-light camera technology. ACS would not comment on the specific arrangements with either company, including whether the lobbying services also include work for ACS on other issues.

“ACS does use specialists to support communication and outreach,” ACS spokesman Joseph M. Barrett said. “As a pioneer in this highly specialized field, ACS has found them to be effective in helping develop public understanding of the program and its proven public-safety benefits.”

Mr. Brown declined to comment and referred questions to ACS, and Mr. Pearson did not return phone calls.

Groups that question the District’s use of the automated traffic-camera technology — arguing that it is primarily used as a revenue stream for city government — say it’s increasingly difficult to compete with ACS’ strong political connections.

“It’s extremely hard,” said Eric Skrum, spokesman for the National Motorists Association, which has criticized the program. “The few organizations speaking out just don’t have the money. We don’t even have a lobbyist. We have to write letters to our members asking them to contact legislators.”

Lon Anderson, spokesman for the AAA Mid-Atlantic, called the lobbying fees paid by Lockheed and ACS “a small insurance policy for the millions of dollars a year you’re going to get in return.”

“If you’re in D.C., you’re saying ACS is doing a good job. They’re making you money hand over fist,” Mr. Anderson said.

Since August 2001, speed cameras have been placed in eight police cruisers that monitor 75 spots throughout the District. The program has generated $65.8 million in fines, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

In addition, fines from red-light cameras at 39 intersections have totaled more than $29 million since 1999.

Police say the program has helped make the roads safer, pointing to statistics that show that aggressive speeding has dropped from one in three motorists in July 2001 to one in 25 motorists in recent months. Officials also point to a more than 70 percent decline in red-light-running incidents at intersections with cameras.

Mr. Anderson said such statistics show that the cameras have had a positive impact, but public cynicism threatens to undermine the program because of questions about whether the District treats the technology as a public-safety measure or a revenue stream.

“We don’t have a political action committee, and we don’t give away a lot of money,” Mr. Anderson said. “The question is: Is our message getting drowned out by those who show up at every fund-raiser and drop large amounts of money?

Story Continues →