Motorists Face Lights, Cameras, Action by Police

It’s a sound motorists dread: the wail of a police siren following behind them.

Over the past two weeks, nearly 600 people have been pulled over by police on Winnetka Avenue. Much to the drivers’ surprise, officers didn’t issue a ticket, but rather handed out a “courtesy notice” for failing to have a front license plate.

“People have been pretty receptive about it,” said Officer Jack Jung of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division. “They are just glad they aren’t getting a ticket.”

Police have been monitoring the busy north-south thoroughfare in the West Valley this month to prepare motorists for the latest traffic control tool: a system that will photograph those who run red lights.

A camera will be installed later this summer at Sherman Way and Winnetka, considered one of the city’s most accident-prone intersections. There were 17 reported accidents at the intersection between August 1998 and August 1999.

When a car enters the intersection after the light turns red, sensors embedded in the street will trigger a camera to take a picture of the violator’s front license plate. A ticket--imposing a $271 fine--will be mailed to the motorist.

By warning motorists about the absence of their front license plates, police said they hope to reduce the number of accidents caused by red-light runners on Winnetka.

“A lot of people don’t know they are required to have front plates,” Jung said. “By getting them to comply, they will be subjected to a citation if they run that red light.”

Squads of motorcycle officers combed Winnetka Avenue on Wednesday. Over a three-hour period, they stopped 283 drivers who had no front plates. Of those, 11 vehicles were impounded because the motorists didn’t have a driver’s license or were driving on a suspended license.

Two weeks ago, police conducted a similar exercise that resulted in 295 warnings and 13 vehicles being impounded.

“I thought I was speeding when I saw the officer’s lights,” said Mary Holcomb, who was driving to work on Wednesday when she was stopped. “When he told me about my license plate, I was so relieved. But I plan on getting that plate so this doesn’t happen again.”

The camera was scheduled to be installed this week but will be delayed at least another month, said LAPD Sgt. John Gambill, coordinator of the department’s photo-enforcement effort. Gambill said the department is working on the final details of the pilot project with the vendor.