BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Initiative guru Tim Eyman has some harsh words for Bellingham’s mayor now that the company contracted to install traffic cameras in the city is suing to block a citizen initiative.

Eyman says Mayor Dan Pike signed away the city’s right to defend its citizens when he contracted with American Traffic Solutions.

He criticizes the city for staying neutral in the case.


“And instead of having the city standing up and defending them, instead they’re just having them sit on the sidelines and watch the red light camera company do their dirty work for them – it’s really sleazy stuff,” said Eyman.

He says the mayor, the city council and the company are "colluding" together to make sure that citizens don’t get a chance to vote on red light cameras.

The group behind the traffic camera initiative, Transportation Safety Coalition, is scrambling to get a lawyer to defend the measure in court.