Plan Proposes Cameras to Nab Errant Drivers

Two Los Angeles City Council members proposed Wednesday installing cameras at problem intersections to photograph drivers speeding through red lights who would then get a $103 ticket through the mail.

Taking the lead from such cities as New York and San Francisco, council members Laura Chick and Nate Holden proposed the monitoring system in hopes of reducing fatal traffic accidents at problem intersections.

In the San Fernando Valley alone, 110 people died last year due to violent crime while 113 people died in traffic accidents.

Under the proposal, cameras would be installed on a test basis at only eight intersections the first year at a cost of about $250,000, which would be paid for through gas tax funds. If successful, city officials hope the program would be expanded citywide.

The full City Council is expected to vote on the proposal this month.

“This photo red-light pilot program will further the LAPD’s efforts to slow people down and stop motorists from running red lights, which is one of the leading causes of serious and fatal traffic accidents,” Chick said.

The intersections where the cameras would be installed would be posted to warn drivers.

Ken Bernstein, Chick’s planning deputy, said police and traffic officials would have to pick the eight intersections with the worst record for traffic accidents for the camera program.

One of the Valley contenders is the intersection of Roscoe Boulevard and Hayvenhurst Avenue in North Hills.

In San Francisco, the camera program has been anything but a panacea.

John Newlin, that city’s executive director of parking and traffic, said the camera program there was initiated last year and was supposed to be in operation by now but has been delayed due to hardware problems with the system.

In addition to the technical problems, he said he worries that the cameras may actually increase the amount of time and paperwork police must spend to fine violators.

He said preliminary tests show that the cameras do not get a clear photo of the drivers due to tinted windows, glare or other cars blocking the view.

Because the citations are issued to the driver and not the car, Newlin said police must confirm the identity of the driver by comparing photos taken by the camera with the license photo of the registered owner. If the camera’s image is not clear, the citation may not be valid.

“There are a lot of holes in this system,” Newlin said.

Bernstein said he would expect some glitches but hopes the program would ultimately reduce the number of traffic accidents overall.

“We hope that at least the deterrent effect in the worst intersections will reduce accidents and show people that they can’t run lights with impunity,” he said.

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Red Light Risk

Based on an LAPD plan, Los Angeles City Council members have proposed installing high- resolution cameras at problem intersections to take photos of cars that speed through red lights. License plates will be photographed and motorists will receive tickets by mail. Cameras would be mounted in bulletproof boxes at only eight intersections on a test basis the first year.

How It Works

1. Camera is triggered when traffic light turns red. Sensors embedded in pavement signal camera to photograph vehicle as it crosses the intersection.

2. The date, time and location of the violation are superimposed on the photos.

3. The pictures ae processed and passed on to an officer who must sign each citation.

4. The citation is then processed by the courts and sent out to the registered owner of the car.

5. The owner can either pay the citation, which is $104 in Los Angeles, or challenge it.

6. If the owner of the car fails to pay the fine or does not identify who was driving the car when the picture was taken, the Department of Motor Vehicles could freeze the car’s registation.

Sources: Los Angeles Police Department;l U.S. Public Tech