Anaheim wants ban on red-light cameras in the city

At a time when some cities have found red-light cameras to be a source of revenue, one city is vowing never to allow the cameras. Ever.

The Anaheim City Council on Tuesday night expressed support for an city charter amendment that would ban the systems that photograph and ticket motorists for allegedly running red lights from being installed in the city.

Under the proposal, the ban on red-light cameras would require the approval of Anaheim voters, which could come as early as November.

Red-light camera programs are highly controversial. Backers argue they improve safety and allow authorities to punish those who run red lights. Critics say the cameras can be inaccurate and worry cities are installing them to generate more revenue.

In Los Angeles, a recent report found the city's photo enforcement program, which catches tens of thousands of violators annually, appears to be generating about $3.8 million a year in traffic-ticket revenue. That is millions less than some previous police department estimates and roughly what the program costs, mostly for fees paid to a private contractor that supplies and operates the camera systems.

Anaheim officials said they have no plans to follow other neighboring cities such as Santa Ana, which has red-light cameras.

"It's very discouraging when government thinks its sole purpose is ... to use public safety as a revenue-raising tool," Mayor Curt Pringle told the Orange County Register.

-- Shelby Grad

Comments

[Big Jim Slade]

Dozens of cities around the country have figured out these things don't make any money for the city and do not improve safety.

What a joke.

[orangesox]

Maybe if Anaheim had red-light cameras, a certain young Angels pitcher might still be alive.

[Dave]

Put your visor down and block your face they can't ticket you if they don't have you on picture running the light it has worked for me also toll roads if you know your gonna travel them pull your plate for a while then put it back on later no plate=no ticket if cop asks your plate got torn off at a parking lot you just got the hardware to put it back

[Tirau]

Wow! I never, ever thought I would hear such clear thinking and common sense from local government. The facts are clear: red-light cameras don't help prevent accidents- in most cases they only increase them.

[Kelly]

How has no one else commented on this? It's awesome! Finally someone recognizes the truth.

"It's very discouraging when government thinks its sole purpose is ... to use public safety as a revenue-raising tool,"

You go Anaheim. Now if only Beverly Hills would follow suit...

[Dan]

Bravo, Huntington Beach Police Chief, now Anahiem city.
Remember when California Legislators approved the photo red lights there were caviots.
1. Absolutely not for revenue generating (all are for revenue generating, see minutes from the vendor, they talk about number of citations, revenue, cost, but no hard numbers about accidents)
2. Last resort when other engineering methods fail (cities use this first not last)
3. Shall not allow the vendor to manage (all management is by vendor)

[goody]

The story fails to mention the pervasive problem of motorists stopping too short at intersections with cameras, for fear of getting caught on film. Millions of dollars are spent on car crashes (particularly rear-endings) that occur at these intersections.

[BOB2]

Yes, let's let unsafe homocidal terrorist scofflaws run traffic lights and kill people-that way we'll all be free to be idiots?

I say double all insurance rates in cities that enact stupidity like this-the rest of us shouldn't have to subsidize the behavior of homocidal scofflaws who run red lights.

[Larry W]

I wish they would put up more red light cameras in El Monte, too many people running red lights all day long, and not uncommon to see a vehicle fly through 4-5 seconds after it's turned red. Unless you think that it's okay to run red lights, I can't see why anyone would fight red light cameras being around.

[Tammi]

Good for Anaheim. Now if the idiots who run Los Angeles would only take a hint and do the same thing it would be wonderful. I can't stand those red light cameras even though I have never been sited before...just cannot stand the idea of BIG Brother watching.

[P. Kraemer]

Red lights and ANYTHING that affects private citizens should be put to a vote; otherwise, how would one know when one breaks the law or whether it's supposed to be under federal, state or local jurisdiction?!!

This is a Republic. BY the people and FOR the people.

There is an Executive Branch, a Legislative Branch, and an Enforcement Branch.

[Nathan]

80% of citations issued from red-light cameras are for right turn violations. Hardly what people have in mind when they think of an intersection that needs a camera.

I don't have a problem with the cameras and think they can be beneficial in intersections prone to catastrophic collisions due to motorists blowing through red lights. But their use should be limited to direct crossing of intersections and not for right or left turns.

Unfortunately, many city contracts with private companies for the red light cameras have specific provisions requiring the city to enforce right turn violations. This is because it is a substantial boon to the private company's revenue. This problem is exacerbated if the cameras are effective as deterrents. This means that fewer motorists run the red light resulting in lower revenues.

To me, the incentive system set up by this type of revenue sharing agreement is rather convoluted and ends up putting the entire system at odds with the public interest when it should be promoting the public interest.

If the red light cameras are not economically viable without enforcing right and left turn violations, they shouldn't be installed.

[James]

"It's very discouraging when government thinks its sole purpose is ... to use public safety as a revenue-raising tool," Mayor Curt Pringle

This may be the stupidest statement ever heard coming from the mouth of a politician. The only people who object to red light cameras are those people who regularly run red lights.

[Duped Tax Payer]

This mayor is pro-law breaker.

[Anaheim dweller]

I agree, no redlight cameras. Lengthen the time of the yellow light being lit by 2 seconds and you will probably save more lives and have fewer redlight runners. I don't think a redlight camera would have saved the Angel pitcher. Cameras or not, people are still running red lights, especially drunks.

[Do the job]

First I believe the Angels pitcher died in Fullerton crash. Second, why is the Council pawning off their jobs on the electorate? They were elected to make the decisions. Anaheim Council punts with every big decision, other wise I think it might hurt Pringle's day job income.

[interesting]

well i think there not using it for renevue because lets see, if they dont run red lights or commit a traffic violation then the city or goverment wouldnt get money simple as that, basically dont commit a violation and you wont have to worry about paying anything, everyone complains that cops are out to get them, well dont do anything illegal or traffic violation and youll be fine.
but i also agree that the cameras are innaccurate most of the time, and the cameras dont cause accidents, people cause accidents,

[Ken]

I dont get how a red light camera would of saved Adenhart .

[Cathy]

There are about 4 red light cameras in my neighborhood probably within a 1-2 mile radius, and I have never seen it capture someone flat out running a red light. Instead I see people slamming on their breaks causing near accidents because people fear the $400 ticket. In addition the only time I have seen the camera take a picture (an obnoxious flash precedes the photo that is quite blinding at night), is when people don't come to a complete stop making a right turn or when there is a cyclist present. It's a horrible abuse of this system to put more money into the pockets of the government.

[hvinh99]

>>orangesox: redline camera don't prevent people from running the red light. It's just giving you a ticket 10 days later. so by giving ticket 10 days later will save an Angels pitcher........ people still running the red light and accident still happen.

[TheRealTrueFreedom]

Hey Dave, instead of spending so much thought and energy into methods to defeat the red-light cameras, wouldn't it just be easier and safer to stop the car?
Anaheim Dweller, nice thought, but if you lengthen the yellow, people will adapt and run the reds the same way. Now, if you keep the opposing lights from turning green for a few seconds after the red light appears.. that might help..

[Kozmo Kramer]

Although I'm a fan of them helping to try and stop the idiots who do run red lights, perhaps they could entertain the idea of positioning them in stretches where people are prone to speeding - in between red lights?

[Henry]

"AnaheimDweller" suggested lengthening the yellows, but "RealTrueFreedom" objected, saying "people will adapt and run the reds the same way."

People don't adapt, running doesn't "rebound." It's one of those counter-intuitive things. A few cities with existing camera installations have lengthened their yellows and have found that running drops A LOT and also stays down for years afterward. One example is Mesa, Arizona. In Nov. 2000 they lengthened their yellows at six different signals, from 3.0 up to 4.0. By December, violations had dropped by 2/3. And they remained down thru August 2004, the latest data available. (If you want to see the data, Google Mesa Arizona red light camera data.)

[RWh]

Look out for DAVE. He apparently sees no problem with running red lights and cheating/lying at most everything. Now that is a quality citizen that California can do without. Probably a tea partier.

[TheRealTrueFreedom]

Henry: Interesting. Counterintuitive, but interesting. I'll check it out. Thx.

RWh: Sounds more like your average Californian to me.