L.A. red light cameras clicking for safety or revenue?
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 17 years
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(bold/emphasis mine)
The enforcement system promises fewer collisions caused by drivers running through intersections. But in L.A., 80% of photo tickets are for right-turn violations, considered a less pressing safety concern.
...
Unlike some drivers facing fines, the 29-year-old homemaker had not risked a deadly broadside by sailing through a stop light -- the principal safety problem cameras were intended to address. Her $159 citation came after she braked at a Manchester Avenue intersection, checked for cross traffic and made a right turn.
"I looked to make sure," she said. "I wasn't being unsafe."
In Los Angeles, officials estimate that 80% of red light camera tickets go not to those running through intersections but to drivers making rolling right turns, a Times review has found. As London realized that day in court, her turn was illegal because she did not completely stop before turning.
read the rest of the article at http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-redligh...
Money!
It's all about the money. The easy revenue for the city the host it.
Val - Nuvi 785t and Streetpilot C340
Red Light
My daughter received one also-- She was going to the ER hospital for her sister. Her fine was $395. They clocked her making a right turn at 17 MPH -- This was 1AM, yes middle of the night.
NUVI 680, NUVI 5000, MS S&T,
Rolling through red on a right turn still illegal!
While I think these sort of cameras blow, the fact of the matter in the quote above is that rolling through a right turn is still running the red light. Red means STOP, pure and simple. If you do not stop, you will get a ticket. Now if the person quoted in the article actually came to a stop, then made the right turn legally on red and still got a ticket, then she would certainly have a beef. But rolling through a red on a right is still NOT stopping.
And while not going straight through the intersection, rolling on a right is still a safety issue as someone could be stepping off the curb to cross the street on the green and the person rolling through the right turn is likely looking left to check for on coming traffic and NOT at the person they are about to hit.
I love the quote where she says "I looked to make sure, I wasn't being unsafe." which is no excuse. After all, couldn't I approach a red light, look both ways and if there are no cars, go ahead and blow through the intersection against the red by the very same argument?
Cheers,
PT
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.
squirrelproductions
(bold/emphasis mine)
The enforcement system promises fewer collisions caused by drivers running through intersections. But in L.A., 80% of photo tickets are for right-turn violations, considered a less pressing safety concern.
...
Unlike some drivers facing fines, the 29-year-old homemaker had not risked a deadly broadside by sailing through a stop light -- the principal safety problem cameras were intended to address. Her $159 citation came after she braked at a Manchester Avenue intersection, checked for cross traffic and made a right turn.
"I looked to make sure," she said. "I wasn't being unsafe."
In Los Angeles, officials estimate that 80% of red light camera tickets go not to those running through intersections but to drivers making rolling right turns, a Times review has found. As London realized that day in court, her turn was illegal because she did not completely stop before turning.
It's all about $.$$ with out a doubt.
Bob
Using Android Based GPS.The above post and my sig reflects my own opinions, expressed for the purpose of informing or inspiring, not commanding. Naturally, you are free to reject or embrace whatever you read.
Yes, it's about the $$$. But
Yes, it's about the $$$. But technically, if a cop was there, he would be justified in giving a ticket. If you saw a cop there and made a rolling right turn, would you argue with the cop saying at least you didn't run through the intersection?
$159 is pretty good. It was
$159 is pretty good. It was $387 for my friends in Riverside, CA. only about 45 minutes away from L.A. But I also agree that it is mainly for revenue
I live in L.A.
(bold/emphasis mine)
The enforcement system promises fewer collisions caused by drivers running through intersections. But in L.A., 80% of photo tickets are for right-turn violations, considered a less pressing safety concern.
...
Unlike some drivers facing fines, the 29-year-old homemaker had not risked a deadly broadside by sailing through a stop light -- the principal safety problem cameras were intended to address. Her $159 citation came after she braked at a Manchester Avenue intersection, checked for cross traffic and made a right turn.
"I looked to make sure," she said. "I wasn't being unsafe."
In Los Angeles, officials estimate that 80% of red light camera tickets go not to those running through intersections but to drivers making rolling right turns, a Times review has found. As London realized that day in court, her turn was illegal because she did not completely stop before turning.
It's all about $.$$ with out a doubt.
Bob
You can count on someone "running" the red-light when there are a line of cars waiting to make a left turn. I didn't realize they might be getting tickets. It may not be as dangerous at a crowded intersection, but it does holds up traffic going the other way.
So it may also be about traffic flow, besides filling the cities coffers
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ