Smile for the camera! Unfortunately, I am referring to a very unwanted photographer – the dreaded red light camera that captures drivers crossing the line only to find a sizeable ticket with their picture attached weeks later in their mailbox. Red light cameras are an increasingly popular form of enforcement, especially in major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. The cameras, which cost over $1 million a year to keep in operation, often carry tickets over $500 for violators.

The LA Times now reports that the intersection cameras may be put to work for more than just red light violations. The Times quotes City Controller Wendy Greuel: “The existing program equipment currently detects numerous other violations that impact driver safety and if cited would result in additional penalties and fines.”

The utility of a red light camera is not without its problems. Although red light cameras help to reduce drivers crossing the intersection, their known presence on a given street corner also causes drivers to engage in equally dangerous behavior by slamming on their brakes and swerving to avoid a ticket, but maybe not an accident. Putting safety first, the inclusion of other citations with a red light camera ticket in Los Angeles would not only generate substantial revenue for the city, but hopefully have a deterrent effect on behavior beyond running red lights, at least that is what city officials in favor of expanding the program are saying.

  • Tough To Trick Red Light Cameras (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
  • Red Light Cameras Catch Cops in Cedar Rapids (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
  • The Trouble With Red Light Cameras (FindLaw’s KnowledgeBase)
  • City Faces Class Action Over Traffic Cameras Could Be Forced to Refund Millions (provided by Bashein & Bashein Company, L.P.A.)
  • Traffic Violations - An Overview (provided by The Law Offices of Daniel J Miller)

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