Red-light camera contractor spent thousands on meals for Sacramento County and CHP employees

Found on Sacramento Bee on Monday, 22 September 2014
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Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers accepted free meals worth thousands of dollars from the private company that operates the county’s red-light intersection cameras, then recommended the county choose that company over several competitors for a new red-light contract worth up to $11.8 million, a Sacramento Bee review has found.

“Even if it is not a corrupt relationship, it doesn’t look good,” said Levinson, who is a member of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission. “It tells a story of a company trying to curry favor with the government and tells the public that government is where people go who can pay to play.”

Bribery works pretty much everywhere. Although politicians ask for a little more than a few free meals.