Hidden camera discovered in Hobby Airport bathroom

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Violated -- that's how dozens of women feel after a hidden camera was discovered in one of the restrooms at Hobby Airport. The camera was discovered in a secure area used by employees, so travelers never came across it.

Houston police are investigating the discovery. It's made many female employees at Hobby Airport very uncomfortable and as we told travelers what happened, it was alarming to them, too.

For one Houston Hobby Airport employee, going to work hasn't been the same the past few days.

"It was in a secure area. How can that happen to us?" said the employee, who did not want to be identified.

It's a discovery that left female employees speechless.

"I didn't know what to say. I was like, 'Oh my God, a camera,'" she said.

This employee says she saw a wire coming out of what appeared to be an old thermostat but didn't think much about it until another employee took a closer look and could even see the lens of the hidden camera.

"That's your most private moment in the whole wide world is in the bathroom. You don't even share that with your husband, and all of us ladies are completely devastated over that," the employee told us.

Houston police say the camera has been removed and the vice division is now investigating how it got there.

"I feel like a victim. I've been totally violated," the employee said.

Investigators say the camera in the bathroom is a criminal violation, and while this one was discovered in an employee restroom, female travelers throughout the entire airport were disturbed when we told them about the discovery.

"That's absolutely scary. I'm from Atlanta and that's been in the news there as well, so I hope this isn't a disturbing trend about Peeping Toms," traveler Janet Hill said.

"I think it's awful. I think they probably need to make sure that all of the restrooms are cleared out," traveler Pamela Barrett said.

"If it's that easy for them to get into the employee restroom, how easy would it be to get into any restroom or any place that it's supposed to be private, a fitting room?" traveler Charla St. Amant said.

This employee says she is speaking on behalf of the many women with whom she works.

"I want him to go to jail. I want him to go to jail for what he has done to us," the employee said.

The Houston Airport System is referring all comments to investigators.

If you have any information, you are asked to call Houston police.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, christine dobbyn

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N. Harris Co. aggravated robbery caught on camera

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators are asking for the public's help to find the man they say is responsible for an aggravated robbery at a north Harris County business.

On January 10 at around 2:45pm, a man entered a beauty supply store in the 5200 block of Aldine Mail Route. Investigators say the suspect walked through the store and eventually approached the counter.

That's when the suspect pulled a knife out and demanded all the cash from the registers. The victim complied and the suspect fled in a dark colored four door passenger vehicle.

The suspect is described as an Hispanic male between 25 and 35 years old. He's between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-7 and weighs between 150 and 180 pounds with a medium build. At the time of the offense, the suspect was wearing a dark colored heavy jacket with silver buttons, a gray hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, jeans and dirty light shoes.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at http://www.crime-stoppers.org/ that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Red light camera opponents return to City Hall

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Opponents of the city's red light cameras will be back at City Hall on Tuesday.

They're not happy with the city's decision to pay millions of dollars for canceling its contract to run those cameras. We're talking about a nearly $5 million dollar settlement and city leaders will hear about it on Tuesday.

According to the terms of the agreement, the city would pay American Traffic Solutions $2.3 million up front from money they have in the bank. The remaining $2.4 million would be paid over the next three years from people who have outstanding red light camera tickets and still need to pay.

In exchange for the payments, ATS agreed to drop the legal battle and bring down all of its cameras within 60 days of when City Council approves the deal.

Mayor Annise Parker says settling with ATS is worth it.

"They were claiming damages of $25 million, so I think a settlement under $5 is a good negotiated deal," she said.

But there's a group of people who say the city doesn't owe ATS anything. They'll be at City Hall Tuesday afternoon to chime in.

City Council meets at 2pm Tuesday to mull over the issue.

Red light debate in League City

League City residents could soon vote on the future of red light cameras in their city.

On Tuesday night, two City Council members will suggest letting the city's 83,000 residents decide if League City should continue its red light camera contract. League City has had cameras up at three intersections along FM 518, but the camera contract expires in October 2014. If the council agrees, the issue should be a citywide vote. It would appear on the ballot in May.

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Are Houston taxpayers on losing end of red light camera settlement?

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A multi-million dollar settlement with the city could finally put an end to the battle over red light cameras in Houston. But could taxpayers end up on the losing end of the deal?

The city has been fighting over this contract for more than a year and after digging through it, there was a real issue at hand here over how much the city owed.

Here's how the settlement breaks down. All told the company will get a little more than $5 million. The city already has $2.3 million of it in the bank. But the rest -- more than $2.7 million -- still has to be collected.

If the settlement deal passes a City Council vote this week the red light cameras will soon disappear. But so will a bunch of money from the city's bank account. On Monday, the mayor told us giving the red light camera company nearly $5 million to go away is worth it.

"They were claiming damages of $25 million. So a settlement for under $5 million is a good deal," said Mayor Annise Parker.

The camera company thinks so, too.

"I think it's in the interest of both sides to put this behind them, and let's move on," said George J. Hittner with American Traffic Solutions.

When those cameras were still on, all sorts of people were getting tickets they still haven't paid. The success of this settlement depends on people paying those tickets and that hasn't been easy to do.

"If I had an outstanding ticket I wouldn't pay it," said Paul Kubosh, red light camera opponent.

Kubosh is a Houston traffic attorney who led the petition drive to get the cameras taken down. His advice to the 25,000 people who still have outstanding red light camera tickets: Do nothing.

"There's nothing they can do to enforce it," Kubosh said.

While that's not entirely true, the city is pretty limited, and if scofflaws don't pay up, Houston taxpayers could be on the hook for as much as $2.7 million in tax dollars.

"People don't have a choice to pay fines. They owe the city money and we will collect on the amounts owed," Mayor Parker said.

Let's hope. In the meantime, the guy who started this whole fight isn't done fighting, even after those cameras come down since a federal judge threw out the referendum.

"Have we stopped the cameras? No," said Kubosh. "Any subsequent mayor can come down here, and contract in the future to rape and pillage the citizens financially."

Since the red light camera program started in 2007, the cameras caught almost 934,000 people. There are still 277,000 unpaid tickets outstanding -- about 30 percent of the tickets. That's $26 million. So the city collects the fines at a 70 percent success rate. Eighty percent of the tickets are more than a year old and the city can't arrest you or hold your vehicle registration.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Houston reaches red light camera settlement

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's a device that has caused confusion, frustration and debate throughout the city of Houston: the red light camera.

The city ordered the cameras turned off and stopped issuing red light camera violations last August, but it looks like their saga is far from over.

Last year, Houston shut down the controversial cameras after residents rose up against them. That decision could cost the city big this year.

According to documents Eyewitness News obtained Saturday, the city of Houston and red light camera manufacturer American Traffic Solutions have come up with a compromise and settlement agreement.

In that proposal, the city would agree to pay ATS more than $12 million dollars for the breached red light camera contract, which ends in 2014.

ATS and the city of Houston have been fighting it out in court since voters decided in November they wanted the cameras turned off.

After the public saw those cameras were turned off and then turned on again, it took a vote by city council members in August to ultimately turn off the red light cameras off permanently.

ATS was seeking $25 million from the city of Houston for breach of contract.

If city council approves this settlement, the city will pay around $4.78 million dollars to ATS up front, but the potential pay-out could climb to about $12 million over the next three years.

The funds to pay the settlement will come from previously collected fines that are in escrow and the approximately $25 million the city is still owed in outstanding red light camera fines issued when the program was still operational.

Under the terms of the agreement, ATS will be paid $2.3 million up front. This represents the amount ATS would have received had the red light cameras remained on from the date they were initially turned off following the voter initiative in November 2010 to December of 2011.

ATS will also receive another $2.4 million over the next three years. This additional amount is meant to address the amounts ATS could have received under its contract with the city, based on collection of delinquent red light camera fines.

In exchange for the payments, ATS has agreed to end its legal fight with the city and remove all of its cameras from Houston intersections within 60 days of approval of the settlement by Houston City Council.

Houston's legal department is recommending that the council approve the settlement. They are also recommending that council authorize the mayor to enter into additional third party agreements to support the collection of outstanding fines, if necessary.

George J. Hittner, ATS general counsel and corporate secretary, told us the deal has taken all sides weeks to iron out.

"We've gone through two mediations, we've had a lot of dialogue with the city, and at this point and time, we believe we've reached an agreement that will be presented to city council," Hittner said. "I think it's in the best interest of both sides to put this matter behind them, and let's move on."

In a statement released Saturday evening from City Hall, Mayor Annise Parker said "I am thankful that traffic violators, not Houston taxpayers, will be paying for this. This is a reasonable settlement and I thank the City legal department for its diligence in getting it done."

Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for updates as we continue to follow this developing story.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Hidden camera inside Pct. 1 sheds light on probe

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- 13 Undercover gets a hidden camera inside a Houston constable's office and wait till you hear what they said when they didn't know we were listening.

The FBI has made the arrests, and now 13 Undercover has the video even the feds haven't seen.

Long before the FBI moved in, 13 Undercover was already watching Precinct One by surveillance of deputies using our hidden cameras. And we got an earful. We want to warn you, too. Some of the language here may not be right for kids.

Let's take a trip downtown, headquarters -- Precinct One Constable Jack Abercia. Wouldn't you have loved to have been a fly on their wall? You can, thanks to our 13 Undercover hidden camera.

"This man is gonna stand so far back from that s*** like he didn't know what the f*** was going on," Michael Butler says on hidden camera.

That's the second in command, Chief Deputy Michael Butler, and this was recorded back in October. We were already knee-deep in our investigation of constables -- Victor Trevino, May Walker. Let's just say at Precinct One, they worried they might be next.

"You think Jack Abercia is going to go on f****** camera? Are you nuts? Are you f****** nuts?" Butler says on hidden camera.

Abercia did say no, but we were there just minutes after he turned in his retirement papers this month.

"I don't have nothing to say to y'all at all. Y'all trying to burn somebody that don't need to be burned," Abercia told us.

"I resent the hell out of you," he told us.

"What did I do?" we asked.

"You talk too much that's not true," he said.

But we had only reported the FBI was investigating Abercia's office for alleged bribery in the hiring of a deputy named Alan James.

"They can do what they want. I haven't done nothing that I'm afraid of ever coming out," Abercia said.

James was hired even after a Precinct One review committee said he should not be given a badge and gun. The constable now blames Chief Butler.

"That was his problem. I told him I didn't want him," he said.

Abercia denies he got a penny for the James hiring, but last week, both the constable and the chief were in handcuffs, charged with accepting bribes in the James case.

Long before FBI moved in for the arrest, we'd already been watching Precinct One for months -- the possible misuse of deputies, county equipment. Listen closely as the chief deputy is questioned by a Precinct One deputy about the integrity of the guy in charge.

"Can Jack Abercia go on TV and say I'm not a crook?" the deputy asks Butler on hidden camera.

"No, he can't, he can't say that. He can't say that," Butler replies.

And wait for it. Here comes the punch line:

"Let me ask you this question: Are there nuts in a Snickers?" Butler adds, then laughs.

We told the constable how they talk about him behind closed doors.

"I haven't done anything, Wayne. I ain't done anything. I know they have all things that we can take pictures of everywhere but I just don't stoop like that at all and I'm not a crook," Abercia said.

It's a denial chief Butler had predicted Abercia would make long before that FBI trouble began.

"He was your right hand guy," we told Abercia.

"Well, I would challenge him to a polygraph. I would, 'cause Wayne, I don't do those things. My mother didn't bring up a fool," he replied.

Chief Butler is now gone from Precinct One. He turned in his badge just days after FBI agents showed up at his house asking about possible bribes. And the constable, he got out days later.

"Is Michael Butler a crook?" we asked Abercia.

"I'm not going to answer that question. I knew something was wrong," he said.

And Michael Butler had predicted what Abercia would do if the trouble ever came.

"He gonna be up out of here, son. It'd be every man for themselves," Butler says on hidden camera.

Tuesday, our hidden cameras follow some of the constable's men. Were they getting paid to be high-priced errand boys?

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more 13 Undercover »

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Serial burglary suspects caught on camera

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A series of home break-ins in west Houston and Memorial Villages have police on alert. But now they have an important clue. Some of the crooks have been caught on surveillance cameras.

Home burglaries are typically one of the hardest types of crimes to solve. In addition to dusting for fingerprints, investigators in this case swabbed certain things inside the house that the suspects might have touched in hopes of having their DNA analyzed.

Just before Christmas, two men were caught on camera burglarizing a home in the Memorial Villages neighborhood before making a quick getaway. The homeowner who sent us surveillance photos wanted to remain anonymous but told us the thieves made off with his family's entire collection of expensive jewelry.

Memorial Villages police are now investigating.

"We haven't really been able to establish a pattern at this time but we're working with some other area agencies in and around Harris and Fort Bend counties to see if there's similarities in some other cases that we've been made aware of," Memorial Villages Police Department Sgt. Kyle Sission said.

The two cases reported in the villages over the past few weeks are remarkably similar to the MO used by thieves who've committed a string of burglaries over the past several months in surrounding commununities such as Tanglewood, Bellaire and West University Place.

"We've actually been pretty successful here as of late in our investigations; however, they still continue and it's something that we try to keep on top of," West University Police Department Capt. Thad Olive said.

What's more is it seems the thieves who are targeting these well-to-do communities are no longer deterred by state-of-the-art home alarms or fancy security surveillance systems. The home in Memorial Villages had both. They were in and out in a matter of minutes.

"I guess they feel it's better pickings in the upscale neighborhoods. There might be more things that they can quickly sell," resident Helga Amengual said.

The investigation is ongoing. So far, no arrests have been made.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Galleria jewelry theft caught on camera

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We're getting an inside look at the violent robbery of a Galleria jewelry store that happened in the thick of the holiday shopping rush. It was a fast crime carried out three days before Christmas while the mall was open and packed with one of its biggest crowds of the year.

The video shows just how quickly the thieves were in and out of the crowded mall, running off with hundreds of thousands of dollars in Rolex watches.

Just two days before Christmas, witnesses described the chaos in the Galleria mall.

"Some are getting on the floor flat chested, others are dragging their girlfriends along, their wives, I think I even saw some folks with strollers," said eyewitness Bryan Parras.

Investigators say three men entered the crowded store and shattered the glass of a display case inside.

After clearing the case of its contents, the suspects left through a nearby door and took off in a vehicle waiting outside.

Now the pictures of what went on inside Ben Bridge Jewelers as three men stormed in around nine o'clock that night.

"I'm sure it was pretty startling when they busted the case," said former HPD Officer Rob Kimmons, who now owns his own security company. "Looks like he has some kind of hammer or chisel there."

He examined the quick video of the crime.

"In a case like this you have to deal with the crowds, but if you can get in and out quickly like they did, they create chaos by the mere fact of breaking the glass. It's just difficult for any kind of security response to happen that quickly," said Kimmons.

The thieves made off with almost $400,000 in high end goods including several rare Rolex watches.

Along with the surveillance video, Crime Stoppers released a picture similar to one of the rare watches stolen -- the Yacht Master II Rolex made of oyster, stainless steel and Everose gold. It's believed there are only 12 in the state of Texas.

"Anyone who would plan this type of a crime during the height of the Christmas shopping season, underneath lights where there are witnesses around and surveillance video is recording. Anyone who would do that is a dangerous, violent felon in our community and they need to be stopped before there is a greater tragedy," said Katherine Cabaniss with Crime Stoppers.

This former police officer says investigators have likely checked cameras throughout the mall for pictures of the getaway car and even gone back several weeks to see if these same individuals were casing the store.

"I think it's obvious in this instance they knew exactly what they were going for; in less than a minute they were out of there," Kimmons said.

The suspects are described as three African-American males, approximately 20-30 years old. At the time of the offense, the suspects wore dark colored clothing, gloves, masks and hats to conceal their identity.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspects in this case.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Youths caught on camera taking donated toys from Pearland church

  PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) -- The Pearland Police Department seeks the public's help in identifying a group of thieves who are targeting Christmas toy donations.

St. Helen Catholic Church in the 2200 block of Old Alvin had been collecting new, unwrapped toys to give away at Christmas. Parishioners had been leaving the toys at the designated collection site inside the narthex of the church and had collected two large bags of toys with a total estimated value of $600.

Police say on Sunday, just before 11am, three suspects, all of whom appeared to be juveniles, were captured on video picking up the bags of toys and walking out of the church. The suspects had also been seen panhandling outside the church. After taking the toys, the suspects got into a gold Chrysler minivan and left the scene.

Pearland police say a similar theft had reportedly occurred at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood.

The first subject is described as a juvenile white female wearing black pants and a black shirt. According to police, she appeared to be approximately 5'4" to 5'6" and was walking and talking with a white male juvenile who was wearing blue jeans and a white polo shirt with tan and blue horizontal stripes.

A second juvenile female, who appeared to be approximately 8 to 10 years old and wearing white pants and a pink shirt, was observed to remove a second bag filled with toys. The Chrysler minivan had tinted windows, aluminum wheels and no front license plate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pearland Police Department at 281-997-4100.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Flash mob robbery caught on camera at Galleria area store

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A swarm of thieves were caught on camera rushing into a luxury accessories store and grabbing whatever they could get their hands on. It was a bold robbery that was over in a matter of seconds.

They're often called flash mob robberies where criminals use strength in numbers to get in and out in a matter of seconds with loads of loot.

Early Wednesday morning, the upscale Hermes of Paris store on Post Oak was targeted by nearly a dozen people. Now we're getting a look at the surveillance video.

Crews are working to repair the door the thieves broke down, which was imported from France. Now police and the management company here hope the surveillance video helps catch the mob of crooks.

Repairmen worked on the gateway to the upper-crust retail giant, and inside employees scrambled to tidy up the mess left behind by a mob of thieves.

"I really think it's horrible that this happened here," said shopper Sarah Brandon.

Overnight Wednesday, a group of burglars ransacked Hermes in Uptown, getting away with high fashion handbags, scarves and other merchandise; presumably worth hundreds and thousands of dollars.

"That's just crazy to me. I think it's insane," Brandon said.

What's more insane is the surveillance video. You see the first car pull into a parking space. Then within a minute, a white SUV pulls in front of the store. One by one they jump out, breaking through the door with pick-axes and crow bars.

"We counted about 10 (suspects)," said a representative with the store's management company.

With faces covered and license plates concealed, the thieves spent less than three minutes shopping, then poured out of the store, carrying whatever they could grab.

"I think they're pretty brave to do something like that, considering there is good security around here," said Brandon.

The management company tells us security is stationed here 24/7 and a guard rolls into the picture within seconds. But it's too late. The crooks are long gone.

"We would love for them to be caught," said the representative with the store's management company.

A Houston police officer told me the store plans to reopen on Saturday.

If you have any information about this case, you are urged to call police.

Authorities looking into a similar incident at the Louis Vuitton store inside the Galleria to see if they're linked.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Man who stole car and toddler caught on camera

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a major new development in the search for a man who stole a car with a two-year-old boy inside. It happened at a west Harris County convenience store and we have the surveillance video that could help deputies find that man.

That suspect was seen at a hospital in the Heights. He walked up to someone in the parking lot, handed over the two-year-old boy, then fled. That child's mother couldn't be more thankful to have her son back.

Two-year-old Jermaine Jones is dunking his play basketball like a champ. His hour-long ride with a criminal on Monday night hasn't rattled his game a bit.

"He's here," said Jermaine's mother Lucresa Dobbins. "So I'm just happy."

There was a point when Dobbins didn't know if she'd ever see her son again. At about 7pm Monday, Dobbins ran to their neighborhood corner store. It's walking distance from their home, so she says she put Jermaine in the front seat and then left him in the running car while she ran inside.

"Even though I left him for that second, my eyes were there," she said.

Dobbins can be seen on gas station surveillance video checking on her car from the register and then running out the front doors.

"By the time I made it out, he was just hopping in the driver's side," Dobbins recalled.

Deputies say the man who stole Dobbins car along with her precious cargo can also be seen on surveillance video.

Dobbins said, "He's trying to put the car in reverse and I'm like no, no!"

The desperate mother tried to shield the car with her body but it was too late. The man drove off and wasn't seen or heard from for an hour.

Dobbins said, "All I kept saying was where is he going to take him? People were leaving the store just to make sure he didn't drop him on the side of the street ."

But he didn't. The agonizing hour ended with a tearful reunion between mother and son when authorities learned the thief dropped the child off at a hospital in the Heights, 20 miles from where he stole the car.

"A lot of times they don't get their kids back," Dobbins said. "That could've been me and there's no way I could've went on with my life."

So today Jermaine's basketball dunks and his laughter mean so much more to a mom who says she's learned her lesson.

"I'm beating myself up like why, why, why did I leave him," she said. "It tore me up."

That suspect is still on the run Deputies are looking for him and a stolen getaway car. It's a 2007 black Chevy Impala with license plate DSH 128. Anyone with information is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

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Man captures racing crash on cell phone camera

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- Authorities are looking very closely at a video of two cars street racing in The Woodlands.

Another driver recorded the cars as they sped off on The Woodlands Parkway near FM 2978. The question now is whether those street racers committed a crime.

The video of the race lasts less than 10 seconds. The race itself ended on a median off The Woodlands Parkway. It happened on Thanksgiving morning, and it was originally thought to be just an accident. But now with this video, it could be a crime.

Though it may not be obvious by his current vehicle, Gerod Rush is a car enthusiast. So when two Corvettes sat in front of him at an intersection in The Woodlands on Thanksgiving, he was intrigued but even more curious about what might happen next.

"I kind of had a gut feeling something was going to go wrong," he said.

So following his gut, he grabbed his cell phone and recorded.

In slow motion, you can see the Corvette on the right loses control and smashes into the Corvette on the left sending it deep into the woods. Rush says it appeared no one was seriously injured.

Eyewitnesses immediately called 911 and troopers responded. Later that day, Rush posted the video on YouTube, calling the drivers two turkeys.

"These were adults," Rush said. "To act this way, to me, is just kind of irresponsible."

Though we had just seen his wife, no one answered at The Woodlands home of the driver who appeared to have caused the crash.

Rush says he didn't post video, which is nearing a million views, to get anyone in trouble, but he hopes it sends a message.

"Maybe this will help teach somebody a lesson if these guys actually face consequences, that hey, before I pull up at the light and race this guy, I remember what happened to those guys on YouTube and maybe it will save lives, who knows," he said.

We're told DPS investigators do have a copy of the video, and Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon says he's aware of it as well. They are waiting for troopers to complete their investigation to determine what, if any, charges are appropriate.

Street racing is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas that is punishable by jail time and/or a fine, as well as a suspended license.

You can read more about this story on The Courier of Montgomery County, our Houston Community Newspapers partner.

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Red light camera election ruled invalid

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a major development in the legal battle over Houston's red light cameras. A judge has ruled last November's red light cameras charter amendment vote is invalid.

The ruling came down from U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes today. However, this does not mean that the red light cameras will be turned back on and tickets will be issued immediately. Judge Hughes' ruling reads in part, "The charter itself and Texas law limit the ability of citizens to initiate changes to the city's charter and ordinances. The nature of the proposition was to repeal a single ordinance about techniques for enforcing traffic laws. It was done beyond the time limit in the charter for repealing an ordinance." Voters wanted them out, but the cameras have remained in place while the battle is being fought in federal court between the city of Houston and ATS, the camera vendor. The city is hoping to avoid paying damages to the company for dropping the contract. Mayor Annise Parker issued a statement saying, "Judge Hughes' ruling means that we have several options to consider. I will consult with City Attorney Dave Feldman and City Council members as we deliberate the future of the red light camera program in Houston. Right now the cameras continue to monitor intersections, but no tickets are being issued."

Paul Kubosh, a lawyer who led the fight against the cameras, told us today's ruling is "judicial activism at its worst."

Stay with ABC13 Eyewitness News for the latest on this developing story.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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