Vaida Pavolas
From: [email protected] Sent: Monday, September 11, 2017 2:17 PM To: Mike Nichols; Ginger Marshall; David Zito; Jewel Edson; Judy Hegenauer; Amy Uruburu; City Attorney; Angela Ivey; Vaida Pavolas; Bill Chopyk; Corey Andrews Cc: [email protected] Subject: Redflex contract proposed renewal
Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Completed
To the Honorable Solana Beach Officials,
I believe you should terminate the Redflex Photo Light Enforcement Program and remove the cameras for several reasons.
1) The program does serious economic damage to the businesses in Solana Beach, their existing and potential employees, and ultimately to your tax base. Per the Federal Reserve, money circulates about six times a year. About $350 per ticket goes to Arizona, Australia and Sacramento to produce about 6 x $350 = $2,100 of total sales of goods and services (turnover) in a year. Almost none of that turnover can occur in the Solana Beach economic area because most of that money is gone forever. If about 3,000 citations are paid in a year, this means about 3,000 x $2,100 = $6,300,000 of sales of goods and services will occur in Arizona, Australia, and wherever Sacramento spends their portion of each ticket's revenue.
Obviously, not all of that turnover would occur in the Solana Beach area, but some significant portion would - and the program prevents that turnover from having a chance to happen in your economic community because the money is gone.
2) These 79 California cities were reported to have dropped red light cameras, or prohibited them before any were installed. Anaheim, Baldwin Park, Bell Gardens, Belmont, Berkeley, Burlingame, Cerritos, City of Orange, Compton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Cupertino, Davis, El Cajon, El Monte, Emeryville, Escondido, Fairfield, Fresno, Fullerton, Gardena, Glendale, Grand Terrace, Hayward, Highland, Indian Wells, Inglewood, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lancaster, Loma Linda, Long Beach, City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Lynwood, Manteca, Marysville, Maywood, Modesto, Montclair, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Napa, Newport Beach, Oakland, Oceanside, Orange County, Paramount, Pasadena, Poway, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Redwood City, Riverside, Rocklin, Roseville, San Bernardino, San Carlos, San Diego, San Juan Capistrano, San Rafael, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Maria, Santa Rosa, South Gate, South San Francisco, Stockton, Union City, Upland, Victorville, Vista, Walnut, Westminster, Whittier, Yuba City, Yucaipa.
Only 31 California communities are continuing red light camera programs, in a state that once had over 100 programs.
I believe that Solana Beach would be wise to become #80 in the list of California communities that ended or banned red light camera programs.
3) There are now five guilty pleas or verdicts in federal Redflex-related cases for fraud, bribery or extortion. Regardless of how honorably Redflex may have dealt with Solana Beach, is it wise to continue to do business with a vendor with that many related felony convictions in federal courts? Note that former Redflex officials have told FBI investigators that these issues happened in as many as twelve states, but the five convictions are from only two states.
In Jefferson Parish, Louisiana officials discovered just as the program began that Redflex had agreed to pay some local people a per-ticket "commission" for improperly using their influence to get Redflex the contract. The Parish escrowed all the fines until the account was about $21 million dollars and finally shut off the cameras. There were lawsuits from both sides and the parties finally reached an agreement out of court to pay Redflex a part of the escrowed monies, the Parish
1 paid their high legal fees from the account, and the ticket recipients got partial refunds. It was another example of improper dealings by Redflex - though one that did not result in any criminal convictions.
4) With something like half of your camera tickets for slow rolling right on red turns, please know that these tickets go almost entirely to safe drivers who endangered no one. Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a Report to Congress showed that only six one-hundredths of one percent (0.06% or 0.0006) of crashes with injuries or fatalities involve a right on red turn - including both turns with or without a full stop. Is it morally OK to fine mostly safe drivers nearly $500 for making safe rolling right on red turns when there were no pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles in the turning path? Yes, it is technically a violation to slow roll a right on red turn, but is it proper to issue very high fines to mostly safe drivers who carefully assured that the way was totally clear before they made the safe right turn at actual turn speeds typically under 10 mph? http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Traffic+Techs/current/The+Safety+Impact+of+Right+Turn+on+Red:+Report+to+Congress
I urge the city to end the Redflex red light camera program.
Respectfully submitted,
James C. Walker Life Member, National Motorists Association Board Member and Executive Director, National Motorists Association Foundation www.motorists.org ; 2050 Camelot Road Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-668-7842 [email protected]
BIO: Age 73, licensed for 56 years, over 1.1 million miles of driving experience in 27 major countries, a volunteer student of these issues for 50+ years. I work closely with the safety department of the Michigan State Police and testify frequently before state legislative committees on proposed legislation that affects traffic safety and other motorists issues.
Red light and speed cameras are illegal to use in Michigan. When bills were introduced in 2013 to allow them, the combined opposition and testimony in hearings from the Police Officers Association of Michigan, the ACLU, the Campaign for Liberty, Abate, the Mackinac Center think tank, the judges association, the National Motorists Association, skeptical editorials in both major Detroit newspapers, and others caused the bills to be withdrawn. Ticket cameras remain illegal to use in Michigan, and should be illegal in every location. Ticket cameras are about profits, not safety. Safety comes from proper roadway engineering, not enforcement.
2 Vaida Pavolas
From: Greg Wade Sent: Monday, September 11, 2017 12:22 PM To: Angela Ivey; Vaida Pavolas Cc: Mo Sammak; Dan King; Johanna; Dan Goldberg Subject: FW: Eight more years of red light cams in Solana Beach? (Sept. 12 agenda item.) Attachments: Supporting Information Dan Goldberg.pdf
------Original message ------From: Edward Tiedje
Dan,
Below is what I found in reference to Lissner's comments.
Right Turns
While the 2016 percentage of issued Right Turn citations Lystner mentions is correct, he leaves out some important data o While 1465 right turn citations were issued in 2016, an additional 1191 captured right turn incidents were rejected by the PD. o The PD rejected 45% of the right turn incidents captured by the system as they felt the violation was not egregious enough to warrant a citation. o The PD rejecting 45% of right turns does not appear to support Lystner's theory of issuing rolling right turns.
Volume
Lystner mentions that incident volume is not decreasing and is actually increasing. Lystner fails to take into account the change in traffic volume. o June 2015-May 2016 6.3 million vehicles crossed the Redflex sensors resulting in 3042 citations o June 2016-May 2017 7.1 million vehicles crossed the Redflex sensors resulting in 3337 citations . Traffic increased 12.69% and citations increased 9.69% o Jan 2016-Aug 2016 4.1 million vehicles crossed the Redflex sensors resulting in 2330 citations o Jan 2017-Aug 2017 6.2 million vehicles crossed the Redflex sensors resulting in 2281 citations . Traffic increased 51% and citations decreased 2.1%
Pricing
Lystner mentions Del Mar and Elk Grove pricing but leaves out some important points. o The Elk Grove contract calls for no upgrades or changes to equipment o Elk Grove has outdated camera equipment resulting in 81% of incidents captured being rejected while Solana Beach averages 46% rejected. o The 35% difference in usable incidents is due to constant free upgrades provided to Solana Beach such as HD video and higher grade cameras. Redflex bases its pricing on several factors with incident volume being one of them. o Solana Beach averages twice the volume of incidents per approach vs. Del Mar. o Each incident is reviewed by 3 employees which leads to higher costs 1 o Each approved incident also leads to printing and mailing costs o Higher incident volume results in additional wear and tear on the approach equipment which is replaced at Redflex's expense as it wears out.
I have attached an informational sheet which includes some recent positive articles reference photo enforcement and its effectiveness. We can discuss these items on the 1:30 call if, talk to you then.
TJ Tiedje | Sales/Accounts Manager | Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. M +1 480 393 6668 | F +1 847 787 5369 | E [email protected] 5651 West Talavi Boulevard, Suite 200, Glendale AZ 85306-1893, United States www.redflex.com
Confidentiality Note: This e-mail, and any attachment to it, is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity named on the e-mail, and may contain confidential or proprietary information (including copyrighted materials). If the reader of is not an authorized recipient, you are hereby notified that reading it or further distributing it (other than to the author or the intended recipient) is prohibited and is potentially an infringement of the rights of the sender or intended recipient. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately return it to the sender and delete it from your system. Thank you.
From: Dan Goldberg [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, September 11, 2017 7:53 AM To: Keith Underwood; Edward Tiedje Cc: Mo Sammak Subject: FW: Eight more years of red light cams in Solana Beach? (Sept. 12 agenda item.)
Keith/Ed,
Below and attached is information from Jim Lissner regarding the proposed new contract for the city’s red light camera program with Redflex that is scheduled to be considered by the City Council at the Council meeting on Tuesday September 12 (tomorrow). Once you have reviewed it, please contact me to arrange a conference call to discuss the information in the e-mail. Since the Council meeting is tomorrow, we need to get this arranged fairly quickly. If possible, it would be best to have the conference call sometime today. Please let me know what works best for you. Thanks.
Dan Goldberg
City of Solana Beach Engineering Department
635 South Highway 101
Solana Beach, CA 92075
858.720.2474 [email protected] www.cityofsolanabeach.org
Please consider the environment before printing this e‐mail
2
Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. 5651 West Talavi Boulevard, Suite 200 Glendale AZ 85306-1893 Tel: 623 207 2000 Web: www.redflex.com
September 11, 2017
***
Subject: Information Supporting Red Light Camera Enforcement
Dear Dan Goldberg,
There are numerous studies conducted to support the use of red light cameras that date back to the 1990’s. I have compiled information below:
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety published a report in July 2016. (Attached). This extensive study used a more rigorous methodology that accounted for trends in fatal crash rates over time within cities and unemployment rates, and by including four times as many cities with red light cameras as in the original study (Hu et al. 2011). The study discovered compelling data that supports the use of red light Cameras: During 2014: Police reported more than 2.5 million collisions (43% of reported collisions) in the United States occurred at intersections Police reported 55,000 serious injuries and 7,697 deaths 709 people were killed and estimated 126,000 people injured in red-light running collisions More than half of the persons killed were pedestrians, bicyclists, or occupants of vehicles struck by red-light runners During this study 117 cities were studied o 57 cities turned on red-light cameras during 1992 and 2014 o 38 cities had no cameras during the time period o 20 cities turned on and later turned off red-light cameras o 2 cities that turned off cameras and later turned them on
In November 2016 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety published a response to critics of the above mentioned study. (Attached). The response provided research-based responses that counter the following claims made by some individuals: Automated enforcement does not change driver behavior Automated enforcement does not prevent crashes There are better ways to reduce violation rates Strict enforcement targets relatively good drivers rather than the few dangerous drivers The equipment used may not be reliable
Alleged violators are not promptly notified Driver are unaware of increased enforcement Automated enforcement is motivated by revenue generation rather than safety Automated enforcement locations are chosen so as to maximize violation rates Automated enforcement is unfair
In December 2016 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Strategic Plan for 2016-2020 included a plan to encourage High Visibility Law Enforcement. Although not specifically naming red light cameras, the plan states, “Research has consistently demonstrated that highly visible enforcement, and integration of traffic enforcement into routine operations, results in reductions of crashes, fatalities and serious injuries.” The plan continues, “Place-based and data-driven enforcement operations further enhances law enforcement’s ability to focus limited resources where they can have the greatest impact for improving safety outcomes.”
California Red Light Camera Programs are highly visible. The cameras and warning signs posted within 200’ of the enforced approach are highly visible. The enforcement locations have been picked by Police Departments after careful analysis of several intersections. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/traveling-three-lanes-road-zero
In November 2016 the Washington Post published an article regarding the number one killer of children in the United States; preventable childhood injury. During the American Academy of Pediatrics October 2016 National Conference & Exhibition in San Francisco, a correlation between rising child traffic fatalities and weak red-light camera enforcement laws was found during a study of the 2010-2014 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/tripping/wp/2016/11/04/red-light-cameras-save-childrens-lives- study-finds/?utm_term=.912ebd2411e5
In August 2016 the White House, Department of Transportation, and NHTSA issued a call to action because the nation lost 35,092 people in traffic crashes in 2015. This ended a 5-decade trend of declining fatalities. They reported a 7.2% increase in deaths from 2014. Pedestrian and pedalcyclist fatalities climbed to a level not seen in 20 years. The call to action was to involve a wide range of stakeholders in helping to determine the cause, including using data collection technologies. Dr. Mark Rosekind, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator, was quoted as saying, “While there have been enormous improvements in many of these areas, we need to find new solutions to end traffic fatalities.” https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/traffic-fatalities-sharply-2015
In January 2015, the Foundation for Traffic Safety published their 2014 Traffic Safety Culture Index. During polling 9,927 respondents participated (548 from California). The results revealed: More than 5 in 6 drivers supported their state adopting a vision to reduce traffic fatalities to zero 83.8% of drivers rated running a red light as either a very serious or somewhat serious threat 94% considered it unacceptable to run a red light when the driver could have stopped 72.7% considered it completely unacceptable to run a red light when the driver could have stopped 84.1% said that most other people where they lived considered it unacceptable 35.6% admitted to running a red light 54.6% of drivers supported using red light cameras in urban areas 53.3% of drivers supported using red light cameras on residential streets https://www.aaafoundation.org/2014-traffic-safety-culture-index
2
On January 6, 2014, ‘The Bakersfield Californian’ published the attached article stating, “Well, new data are in and the evidence is strong: Red light cameras are doing their job.” The article explained the accident rates had fallen at almost all Bakersfield red light camera equipped intersection. It continued, yearly decline rates ranged from 47% to 73%, depending on the intersection. The article also advised, “It’s hard to argue against the privacy- diminishing obtrusiveness of mounted cameras when nearly a decade of data make such a powerful case for the safety benefits of said obtrusiveness.”
In September 2007, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published the attached “Automated Enforcement: A Compendium of Worldwide Evaluations of Results.” The compendium details automated enforcement systems implemented around the world and found, “for red light enforcement, the key studies supported that red light cameras can reduce crash severity at high red light running intersections.”
A study in Philadelphia, Pa., evaluated effects on red light cameras and extending the yellow signal timing by about a second and then introducing red light cameras. While the extended yellow signal timing reduced red light violations by 36%, adding camera enforcement reduced violations by an additional 96%. (Retting, R.A.; Ferguson, S.A.; and Farmer, CM. [Accident Analysis & Prevention 40(1); 327-33 – March 2007). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000145750700111X
In 2006 the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a brief titled, “Red Light Cameras.” https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/safety/safe_mrt_redlight.pdf
The conclusions of the FHWA study found the following: In 2004, intersection crashes accounted for more than 40% of crashes Red light running caused 854 fatalities and over 168,000 injuries Provided the findings from a comprehensive FHWA study (FHWA’s Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras; FHWA-HRT-05-048), which included data from seven jurisdictions across the U.S. (attached) o 25% decrease in total right-angle crashes o 16% reduction in injury right-angle crashes o 15% increase in total rear-end crashes o 24% increase in injury rear-end crashes o Costs for economic impact of cameras saved society from $39,000 to $50,000 annually at installed intersections, including hospital bills, property damage to vehicles, insurance expenses, value of lost quality of life, and other costs. o Clarified in another study conducted for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, researchers found the majority of jurisdictions reported downward trends in RLR crashes and violations because of red light cameras. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/05049/05049.pdf
In March 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a study conducted in Sacramento, California where data was collected from 1999 until 2003 (DOT HS 810 580) in conjunction with the Volpe Center. The goal of this study was to understand the correlation between red light violations and various driver, intersection, and environmental factors. Approx. 47,000 red light violation records were analysed. During the analysis, it was discovered most violations after 2 seconds of red light onset occurred at the intersection with the highest yellow light time and red light times combined. https://ntl.bts.gov/lib/35000/35000/35063/DOT-VNTSC-NHTSA-05-01.pdf
3
One of the most referred to studies used by red light camera opponents is the Texas Transportation Institute study from September 2004 (Report 0-4196-2). In this study it actually found estimated violation and crash reductions by 40 violations and 36 crashes by implementing camera enforcement. Camera enforcement effectiveness reduced red light violations from 40 to 59 percent. (Attached)
During a subsequent Texas Transportation Institute study (Evaluation of Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems in Texas, August 2011), it was found an overall reduction in all red light related crash types for 90% of communities using the cameras. The state-wide reduction in red light running crashes of all types was 26.4%. This study revealed clear evidence there was a reduction in red light running violations while intersections had active cameras and increases in red light running violations when the cameras were inactive. https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/trf/red_light/auto_traffic.pdf
Sincerely,
Ed Tiedje Account Manager
4
Vaida Pavolas
From: Angela Ivey Sent: Monday, September 11, 2017 7:22 AM To: Vaida Pavolas Cc: Greg Wade; Johanna; Mo Sammak Subject: Eight more years of red light cams in Solana Beach? (Sept. 12 agenda item.) Attachments: mime-attachment.jpg; ATT00001.htm; AnnualSolana2013to2016.pdf; ATT00002.htm; TrcaAllCitiesCandor2017sep9.pdf; ATT00003.htm
From: "Jim"
9-9-17
Subject: Eight more years of red light cams in Solana Beach? (Council item Sept. 12, 2017)
Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers:
Some numbers not found in the staff report:
In 2016 rolling right turns comprised 51% of all tickets issued.
In 2016 the quantity of tickets for rolling right turns was 1/3 more than in the three preceding years, 2013 - 2015. (See notes at bottom of this letter for source of data.)
In 2016 the quantity of tickets for all movements (straight, right, left) was 46% more than in the three preceding years.
In 2016 the quantity of tickets for all movements was 63% more than in the three years 2010 - 2012.
Your neighbor Del Mar pays $1578 per month for each of their cameras while you are being asked to continue paying $2386, 51% more.
Safety is paramount, yet not found in the staff report are any statistics comparing current Solana Beach accident rates to the rates before the cameras were put in, or to controls.
More about safety. Personally, I identify with what Mark Twain wrote about statistics: "Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: 'There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.' " So, when the question is, "Do cameras reduce injuries," the study I like the most - because it does not rely on statistical analysis - is the one San Francisco first published in August 2015 to satisfy the new CVC 21455.5(i) requirement to publish an annual report. A link to the October 2016 edition of their annual report is in the attached Candor pdf. Their study takes about five minutes to read.
1 In a May 2016 letter to me, San Francisco's Chief Traffic Engineer Ricardo Olea said:
"You are correct that engineering changes are the most effective way to reduce red light running crashes. We’ve had a long-standing record of improving intersection safety through signal upgrade improvements and signal timing changes." "We are the process of starting a new Red Light Camera contract which will reduce the total number of approaches being enforced in San Francisco, keeping some locations we believe are still needed based on crash and citation history."
Later in 2016 San Francisco reduced ticketing by 76%; during the five-month period September 2016 thru January 2017 they issued just 1273 tickets compared to the average 5310 tickets they issued in the same five-month periods a year and two years before. (Solana Beach issued 1251 tickets in September 2016 thru January 2017.)
How did San Francisco arrive at their decision to downsize? Their annual report, mentioned above, found that the installation of a red light camera seldom was followed by a drop in accidents. Instead, the drops occurred after engineering improvements like making the yellows longer, adding an all-red interval (both of which are cheap to do), or a general upgrade to the signal. (In one instance - see page 12 of the report - staff conceded what one of the graphs shows, that the camera may have had no effect whatsoever.)
Staff has reported to you that 90% of Solana Beach's tickets are going to visitors. Solana Beach is part of a megalopolis with an ever-changing population of visitors who will never have their driving behavior improved by cameras they don't know are there. If the City genuinely wants to minimize running and accidents by visitors (and "locals" too), it should do the following things to make the problematic intersections stand out, look more important.
a. Put up more visible signal lights (larger diameter, with bigger backboards, with more of them placed on the "near" side of the wider intersections). b. Paint "signal ahead" on the pavement. c. Install lighted overhead street signs for the cross street (also placed on the "near" side), and larger bulbs in the streetlights at the intersection.
Then there is the issue of rolling right turns which were 51% of Solana Beach's camera tickets in 2016. Making the intersections stand out, or even lengthening the yellows, won't reduce the number of rolling right turn violations, nor will the increasingly heavy ticketing for the turns (blame the visitors), so I suggest that the council ask staff to identify the specific intersections having a lot of accidents associated with rolling right turns, and then consider installing "blank out" signs programmed to light up and prohibit all right turns during the riskiest portions of the signal cycle. If pedestrians or bicyclists are being run down, the City should not stand by and allow rolling right turns to continue unimpeded.
Now - before a new up-to-eight-year contract is signed - the council should be provided with a report about whether the cameras actually improve safety. That report should also include details of any engineering changes staff may have made to improve safety. A suggested format for the report would be either that used in the San Francisco study or that used in the San Leandro study, also linked in the attached Candor pdf. Or both.
If staff or Redflex submits accident statistics the morning of the 12th, I would have two comments:
2 1. The last minute presentation of said statistics would deny the public a suitable opportunity to review their veracity and provide detailed comments to the city council.
2. With all due respect to City and sheriff staff, any statistical analysis should be done by a professional who has academic credentials in the field of statistics and has not done previous work for the City.
I am including, below, a letter I sent you earlier, as it includes recommendations from a former president of Redflex and from the editors of the Union Tribune.
Regards,
Jim Lissner
Previous email follows.
Subject:More Years of Red light cams in Solana Beach? Date:Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:56:46 -0800 From:Jim
Reply-To:j [email protected] To:[email protected] , [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
3-3-15
Re: Proposed renewal of red light camera contract with Redflex
Honorable Mayor and Council:
The former five year contract between the City and Redflex expired in October, and since then - I am told - staff has been negotiating a new contract and the parties are very close to agreement. Since I don't know for sure that staff will present the new contract to your Council for review, or when they might do that, I am taking this opportunity to raise a few points.
Shouldn’t the program be evaluated, for effectiveness, before a contract is negotiated or signed? Among other things, wouldn't you like to know why ticketing has not decreased after years of enforcement but is in fact rising, with 2014 ticketing 40% (or more) higher than in previous years? (Data from highwayrobbery [dot] net.) May I suggest that the evaluation be done by a person having professional credentials in statistics and who is completely independent of the City and the sheriff? May I also suggest that after such an evaluation is published, and before any hearing is held before the Council, there should be a review period of a couple weeks to provide time for the public to comment on the evaluation?
If you determine that the program should be continued, then there is the question of the rent. For the last five years the City has paid $2364 per camera per month, and I have been told that the proposed new contract may continue at that same amount. You have had your Redflex cameras for a long time, since 2004; here is how Redflex has agreed to reward another City's loyalty.
3
To remain in compliance with California Vehicle Code 21455.5 (i) Redflex Traffic System and our contracted Government Agency has produced this report for the Judicial Counsel for the calendar year 2014:
Government Agency: Solana Beach Police Department
The number of alleged violations in 2014 captured by the systems they operate:
2,473
The number of citations issued in 2014 by a law enforcement agency based on information collected from the automated traffic enforcement system: 1,946 Citations filed with the Court
For citations identified in paragraphs (2), the number of violations that involved traveling straight through the intersection, turning right and turning left (if known) Straight: 795 Right: 1,092 Left: 59
The number and percentage of citations that are dismissed by the court:
121 (6.21 %)
The number of traffic collisions at each intersection that occurred prior to, and after the installation of, the automated traffic enforcement system:
Intersections with Automated Enforcement System Installation One Year Prior 2014 Calendar to Installation Hwy 101 & Lomas Santa Fe Dr 10/06/2004 Not Available 5 Lomas Santa Fe Dr & Solana Hills Dr 10/06/2004 Not Available 2
(Collision Report Data from Solana Beach Police Department)
CANDOR FROM OFFICIALS
City of San Francisco (cameras installed in 1997, downsized in Fall 2016): Beginning in September 2016 the City of San Francisco reduced ticketing by 77%; during the eight- month period September 2016 thru April 2017 they issued a total of just 1942 tickets compared to the average 8281 tickets they issued in the same eight-month periods a year and two years before.
San Francisco's cutback was deliberate and planned, per a letter highwayrobbery.net received from City Traffic Engineer Ricardo Olea in May 2016:
"You are correct that engineering changes are the most effective way to reduce red light running crashes. We’ve had a long-standing record of improving intersection safety through signal upgrade improvements and signal timing changes." "We are in the process of starting a new Red Light Camera contract which will reduce the total number of approaches being enforced in San Francisco, keeping some locations we believe are still needed based on crash and citation history."
How did San Francisco arrive at their decision to downsize? In 2015 the SFMTA staff did a camera-by-camera examination of the effect the nineteen-year-old program had had upon accidents and found that the installation of a red light camera seldom was followed by a drop in accidents. Instead, the drops occurred after engineering improvements like making the yellows longer, adding an all-red interval (both of which are cheap to do), the addition of an arrow for left turns, or a general upgrade to the signal. (In one instance - see page 12 of the report - staff conceded what one of the graphs shows, that the camera may have had no effect whatsoever.) The SFMTA has not published their report online; highwayrobbery.net got it by submitting a public records request. To find a copy of the report, do a Google on - in quotation marks - "SFMTA Red Light Camera Annual Report 2015" and then scroll down to Set # 4 on the webpage which will come up, or use this link: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/redlightcamsdocsSanFranContd.html#annualreport
City of San Leandro, California (cameras installed in 2006, still operating in 2017): In 2016, as part of its application to Caltrans for re-issuance of its annual red light camera encroachment permit, the City commissioned and submitted a study by an independent engineering firm. From the study, pages 6 and 10:
"After reviewing over 13 years of collision data for the two intersections, our findings are inconclusive with regards to an ARLE [red light camera] reducing collisions." "For whatever reason, it appears that the injury plus fatality collision rate at signalized intersections (with or without ARLE) has decreased dramatically over the most recent nine year period (when compared to the previous nine year period). ARLE cannot take credit for this reduction, because the collision rate decreased more at signalized intersections without ARLE." http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsSanLeanEncrPerm2016engrRepRecd2017jul26. pdf
City of Stockton, California (cameras installed in 2004, closed in 2015): “Staff determined the program was not cost neutral for the city and found no evidence that it has significantly reduced traffic collisions. In February 2015, we sent Redflex a letter stating we were terminating the contract." Stockton police spokesman Joe Silva in 6-5-15 Stockton Record article. http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150605/NEWS/150609770 ( archived copy )
City of Laguna Woods, California (cameras installed in 2005, closed June 2014): "Staff studied incidents over a 10-year period of time and found that the number of collisions related to signal violations at the two photo enforced intersections fluctuated slightly, but did not change in any significant manner after initiation of the red light photo enforcement program." City Manager Christopher Macon in staff report prepared for 5- 28-14 council item. http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsLagunaWoodsContr2014MayStaffRep.pdf
City of Walnut, California (cameras installed in 2007, removed in 2014): "The statistical review of the RedFlex camera program did not reflect a reduction of traffic accidents, nor could the data support the cameras made the intersections safer." Mayor Tony Cartagena in 5-19-14 San Gabriel Valley Tribune article. http://www.sgvtribune.com/general- news/20140519/walnut-city-council-votes-to-end-red-light-camera-program ( archived copy )
City of Riverside, California (cameras installed in 2006, closed Sept. 2014): "Upon review CalTrans has determined that the accident rates do not warrant the camera systems at any of the five CalTrans locations and has requested their removal." Riverside Director of Public Works/City Engineer Thomas J. Boyd, in report prepared for Public Safety Committee meeting of 6-18-12, page 2-3. Source: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsRivers2012JuneStaffRepCloseProg.pdf More from Riverside: "It’s impossible to attribute causality to one thing. I don’t know whether and to what degree the red light cameras have contributed to a reduction in traffic crashes." Chief of Police Sergio Diaz. Source: 7-14-12 Press Enterprise article: http://www.pe.com/articles/-716731--.html (archived copy )
More from Riverside: "I have spoken publicly against the program several times in the past, once before the public safety committee and twice before the entire council. Each time, I expressed my dislike of the general concept of the program, the unethical tactics used to collect fees, inconclusive data regarding their effectiveness, and the realization of corporate profits at the expense of our citizens. My position on these matters has not changed." Retired 28-year Riverside fire captain, in letter submitted for the Oct. 2, 2012 city council meeting. Source: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsRiversideContractOpinionByRetdFireCapt.pdf
City of Poway, California (cameras installed in 2004, removed in 2013): "On March 5, 2013, the City Council addressed the potential termination of the program and directed staff to turn off the cameras and evaluate the program's safety benefit for a six month period." "During the six month period preceding the March 9, 2013 turn-off date, there was a total of eight [later corrected to seven] at these three intersections. During the six month period after the March 9, 2013 turn-off date, there were five accidents. This represents a decrease in accidents of 37.5% [later corrected to 28.6%]. There were no serious injury accidents during this period." City Manager, in report submitted for 10-15- 13 city council meeting. Source: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsPowayContr2013octStaffRepAndTwoSupps.pdf
City of El Cajon, California (cameras installed in 2002, removed in 2013): "On February 26, 2013 the El Cajon City Council voted to suspend the "Agreement" with Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc. for a period of six months." "The data shows that from February 27, 2013 to August 31, 2013, while the cameras were covered, there were 39 reported collisions at red-light photo enforcement intersections as compared to 36 reported collisions during the same time period in 2012." "Based on these comparisons, the overall increase in traffic collisions is statistically insignificant." Chief of Police, in report submitted for 9-24-13 city council meeting. Source: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsElCajonContr2013SeptStaffRep.pdf
City of Emeryville, California (cameras installed in 2004, removed in 2012): "Staff also analyzed the number of accidents for the same seven year period and found that the red light cameras did not significantly impact the number of accidents." "Finance has estimated that elimination of the program would result in a $200,000 per year savings to the City." Chief of Police Kenneth James, in reports submitted for 5-15-12 city council meeting. Source: http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=87&doctype=agenda (archived copy )
City of Los Angeles (cameras installed in 2000, removed in 2011): "It was completely wrong." "It was strictly designed to bring in revenue and didn't do anything for public safety." Councilmember Dennis Zine, who prior to his twelve years (termed out) on the council served 28 years with the LAPD, 18 years of which was on motors. Source: Los Angeles Daily News, 3-27-12, http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20120328/red- light-scofflaws-will-catch-a-break ( archived copy )
City of San Bernardino, California (cameras installed in 2005, removed in 2012): "It was the consensus of the Council that the City has lost business because of the red light cameras and they're not making the City any safer." Minutes, 1-24-11 city council meeting. http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsSanBernContr2011JanMins.pdf
City of El Monte, California (cameras installed in 2003, removed in 2008): "A comparison of traffic collisions at Redflex monitored intersections vs. non-Redflex monitored intersections revealed that there is no statistical difference in the number of traffic collisions because of Redflex monitoring." Chief of Police Ken Weldon, in memo presented at 10-21-08 council meeting. http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsElMonteContrTerminateWeldonMemo.pdf
More from El Monte: "We're spending a lot of staff time on this just to gain $2000 a month. It doesn't reduce accidents -- that's what our studies and results have come back." City Manager James W. Mussenden. Source: Granicus video of council meeting of 10- 21-08, at 1:28:40, available at City's website.
City of Upland, California (cameras installed in 2003, removed in 2009): "The system appears to have little influence on the number of red light related collisions at monitored intersections. At times, rear end collisions have actually increased." Chief Steve Adams, in memo presented at 3-9-09 council meeting. Source: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsUplandStaffReport2009Mar9.pdf
City of Whittier, California (cameras installed in 2004, removed in 2010): "Initially, the red-light program did change behaviors because it did lessen the number of red-light violations but over the long term it didn't appear to lessen the number of injury accidents." Assistant City Manager Nancy Mendez. Source: 12-6-10 Whittier Daily News http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsWhittierArticleProgTerminated.pdf
City of Loma Linda, California (cameras installed in 2006, removed in 2010): "I believe these red light cameras are ways for city governments to legally extort money from their citizens." "The month after we lengthened the yellow light by one second, the number of violations that we have seen dropped by 90 percent." Mayor Rhodes Rigsby, M.D. Source: KABC - TV, 12-3-10, http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=7824510 (archived copy )
City of Gardena, California (cameras installed in 2005, removed in 2011): "Our research in Gardena has revealed there is no significant traffic safety impact as a result of the use of the red light cameras. At almost every intersection where we have cameras, collisions have remained the same, decreased very slightly, or increased depending on the intersection you examine. When combining the statistics of all the intersections, the overall consensus is that there is not a noticeable safety enhancement to the public." Chief of Police Edward Medrano, in memo presented at 2-9-10 council meeting. Source: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsGardenaContr2010staffRepFull.pdf
City of Bell Gardens, California (cameras installed in 2009, removed in 2012): "To date, 95% of the funds collected from verifiable violations have been paid to RedFlex Traffic Systems for operating the cameras. The remaining 5% of funds collected have been utilized to partially offset costs of personnel to manage the system. The red light camera program has contributed to a moderate decrease in the overall number of accidents; however, no change in the overall number of injury accidents. Furthermore, the police department has recognized unanticipated personnel costs to manage the program. Based on this analysis, the red light camera program is not significant enough of a community safety benefit to justify the continuation of the program beyond the existing three (3) year agreement term that expires on March 29, 2012." Staff report presented at 9-26-11 council meeting. http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsBellGdnsContr2011staffRep.pdf
City of Hayward, California (cameras installed in 2008, removed in 2013): "In response to Council Member Zermeño's question for reasons why cities chose to drop out of the Red Light Camera program... City Manager David commented that another reason was the lack of strong evidence in the industry that red light cameras were effective in reducing collisions." Minutes, 10-11-11 council meeting. http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsHaywardStaffRep2011Oct11mins.pdf
More from Hayward: “There is no concrete data that supports the fact that red light cameras are supposed to reduce collisions." “That’s not been our experience here in Hayward. We’ve had much better results with a redeployment of our motor officers. I think that having that personal contact with our community members makes a lasting impression. It’s an opportunity for us to change behavior when it’s wrong versus getting a ticket in the mail 2-4 weeks down the road.” Police Chief Diane Urban, during 3-5-13 city council meeting. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/03/06/hayward-to-get-rid-of- red-light-cameras/ ( archived copy )
City of Hawthorne, California (cameras installed in 2004, still operating as of 2017): "The hope is that driving behavior is corrected, not just through that intersection but through the rest of the time you're driving here." "You need to study accidents overall. Some of the data that you don't have is accidents for their entirety in our city. You know what, you're right, they're not going down. I wish they were." Hawthorne Police Captain Keith Kauffman, during 3-13-12 city council meeting. (In late 2015 Kauffman became Chief of Police in the City of Redondo Beach.) http://highwayrobbery.net/redlightcamsdocsHawthMain.html#Council2012
City of Escondido, California (cameras installed in 2004, removed in 2013): "Staff's analysis is, the data on accident rates is inconclusive." "We didn't find any change between photo enforced intersections and citywide. You're just as likely to be injured at a photo enforced intersection as you are citywide. So we didn't find anything to demonstrate that severity had been reduced." "Photo enforcement has the highest cost of all the countermeasures." Escondido Assistant Director of Public Works Julie Procopio. Source: Video of council meeting of 8-21-13, at 1:26:50, available on City's official archive site, at http://escondido2.12milesout.com/
Slide shown by staff at 8-21-13 Escondido council meeting.
More from Escondido: "Some of the best footage of really drastic collisions comes from red light cameras." "The cameras are there, the collisions still happen." Councilwoman Olga Diaz. Source: Video of council meeting of 8-21-13, at 1:30:00.
City of South Gate, California (cameras installed in 2003, removed in 2013): The most disappointing thing from staff's perspective is the lack of change in behavior at the intersections." "If you look at the statistics that were provided by RedFlex, you didn't see a dramatic impact in the behavior over the years. In fact, a limited correlation between the implementation of RedFlex and the change in behavior. That's disappointing in the deployment, not just in this city, but everywhere." City Manager Michael Flad at council meeting of 9-10-13. Source: audio clip audio of full item
City of Moreno Valley, California (cameras installed in 2008, removed in 2009, City of Riverside camera on shared border removed in 2012 at Moreno Valley's request): "We took the heat without having any control over it." “I’m happy to see all those red light cameras go. …The few people that like them just haven’t looked at the reality of what it does. It takes away the discretion of a police officer.” Moreno Valley Mayor Richard Stewart. Source: Riverside Press Enterprise article 8-6-12 http://www.pe.com/articles/camera-654226-riverside-city.html ( archived copy )
City of Glendale, California (cameras installed in 2008, removed in 2012): "In short, the nearly 4-year-old red-light camera program became 'cumbersome' and not 'the best use of our resources,' Capt. Carl Povilaitis said." Source: Glendale News-Press article of 3-13- 12 http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-0314-glendale-police-shut-down- redlight-camera-program,0,1343078.story ( archived copy )
The San Mateo County (California) Superior Court (beginning in 2005 nine cities in the County installed cameras and four still were operating cameras as of 2017): "Are we doing right by the public?" "It's questionable whether the trade-offs are appropriate." "There's a balance there, and I don't think we have found it." CEO John Fitton, San Mateo Superior Court, on 11-13-09. Source: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsSanMateoCountyArticles2009Nov13CourtExec Angry.txt
More from the San Mateo Superior Court: "I would advise cities who are contemplating installing red light cameras to move cautiously. I know these systems generate revenue for cities, but safety-wise there are questions about whether the red light cameras reduce accidents." CEO John Fitton, on 2-16-10. Source: KGO-TV, http://www.abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/peninsula&id=7280823 (archived copy )
From the San Mateo County Grand Jury: "Based on the data provided by the cities, there was no overall trend indicating a noticeable change in accident rates before and after installation of red light cameras." "Recently, the City of San Carlos extended the yellow light time to comply with state standards and found that the number of citations fell dramatically." "As a result the revenue from red light citations could no longer cover the associated costs." Source: 2010 Grand Jury Report http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsSanMateoGrandJuryFinalRep.pdf
In Other States
City of Dunnellon, Florida: "Within just a few months after removing the cameras the positive feeling throughout the community was palpable. Our business and new development has greatly improved since removing them. People were learning ways around town to avoid the cameras, which is never good for business. Also, rear end collisions went up considerably, so safety was hardly a winning argument to keep them. The revenue that the city lost due to removing the cameras is a drop in the bucket compared to the negative aura and loss of business the city experienced. You can't put a number on negativity. The yellow lights had also been set to the minimum length allowed by state law by the previous city manager, so they were near entrapment-level cameras. We noticed a reduction in accidents just by lengthening the yellow light time months before we removed the cameras. We also extended the red light time in the opposite direction allowing intersections to clear and this also made a huge difference in accidents. Source: Nathan Whitt, former mayor of Dunnellon, in email received by highwayrobbery.net on 6-16-17.
City of Jacksonville, Florida: "(Sheriff) Williams, who took office in 2015, isn’t sold on their effectiveness. 'We know from the data that it’s not really reducing crashes at intersections,' he said. However, Williams said he stuck with the program because he had high hopes in a nascent and potentially life-saving technology that was offered by the city’s red-light camera vendor, Redflex. Known as the Halo System, the cameras purportedly could detect cars running a red light and delay the opposing traffic signal from turning green until the intersection was clear. The city installed that technology at five intersections, but Williams said it was riddled with problems that limited its effectiveness. He said his department concluded the 'technology just isn’t there yet,' so he’s decided not to renew the city’s red-light camera contract after it expires at the end of this year." Florida Times-Union, 8-10-17. Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-08-10/sheriff-mike-williams-scuttles- jacksonville-s-red-light-camera-program (archived copy )
City of Peoria, Arizona (cameras installed in 2008, removed in 2011): "The city will not renew its contract with Redflex Traffic Systems after learning from police that crashes at monitored intersections actually increased during the three-year pilot program. Collisions at the four intersections with red-light cameras saw an average uptick of 29 percent, Peoria police said in a Tuesday presentation to City Council." Arizona Republic, 9-14-11. Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/09/14/20110914peoria-deactivate-red-light- cameras-brk.html (archived copy )
More from Peoria: "The Red Light Camera Photo Enforcement Safety Program has not met the goal of reducing collisions at the monitored intersections, however, the goal of reducing the frequency of red light violations has been met." Chief of Police Roy W. Minter, in staff report prepared for 9-13-11 council meeting. "Several basic crash statistics showed that the numbers of key crash events (e.g., fatal crashes, angle crashes, and total crashes) actually increased after the implementation." Soyoung Ahn, Associate Prof. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, in letter included in staff report prepared for 9-13-11 council meeting. Source: http://www.peoriaaz.gov/uploadedFiles/Peoriaaz/Departments/City_Council/Packets/201 1/091311/09132011_ss_packet_amended.pdf ( archived copy )
City of Roswell, Georgia: "When you look at the number of crashes before the cameras were installed compared to after, they're virtually the same." Source: Roswell Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak, in Atlanta Journal-Constitution 11-12-12, http://www.ajc.com/news/news/roswell-looks-past-red-light-cameras/nS4N9/ ( archived copy )
Brick Township, New Jersey: “At the end of the day, the statistics I was shown did not convince me that these cameras are making intersections safer.” “The strongest argument for keeping the lights is for the revenue they generate, and I feel strongly that government should not be balancing budgets through punitive measures.” Source: Mayor John Ducey, in Courier Post 2-10-14 and More Monmouth Musings 2-6-14, http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20140210/NEWS02/302100019/In-one- township-mayor-ends-use-red-light-cameras? ( archived copy ) http://www.moremonmouthmusings.net/2014/02/06/brick-township-ends-its-red-light- camera-program/#more-20965 ( archived copy )
City of Hollywood, Florida (cameras installed in 2010, closed in 2015): "We have seen no substantive change in fatalities between before red light cameras, four years before, and four years after." "We have also seen a dramatic increase in most intersections of twice as much rear end accidents occur after the red light camera implementation as to before the red light camera implementation. As a whole, there have been more accidents at each intersection." "...those locations that we originally picked, we picked them because they were our high accident intersections in the city." "Those intersections still today remain our high accident intersections, therefore requires us to continue to do traffic enforcement there with or without the cameras." Source: Chief of Police Tomas Sanchez at Hollywood, Florida city commission meeting of 7-8-15, beginning at 2:39:50 on City's online video. Transcript
Corpus Christi, Texas (cameras installed in 2007, closed in April 2017): “My recommendation after review is that we do not renew this program, we cut ties and move on. I think there's been some wins, some single-digit drops in accidents and such, but when you have this volume of traffic of hundreds of thousands of vehicles crossing interactions and you are moving numbers by single digits, it's not real relevant. Again, we do not renew.” Source: Chief of Police Mike Markle at City of Corpus Christi council meeting of 2-14-17, beginning at 3:26:30 on City's online video. Also in the local news, at http://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2017/02/13/city-council-discuss- whether-red-light-cameras-working/97851396/
From www.highwayrobbery.net