Red Light Camera Timeline 2002

YOU BE THE JUDGE

January 11, 2002 - City of Thousand Oaks, CA rejects red light cameras: "The city of Thousand Oaks won't rely on cameras to catch red-light runners. Instead, the city will use studies done at various intersections to increase police patrols during hours when motorists are more likely to speed through red lights. Based on recommendations from Thousand Oaks Police Chief Keith Parks, the Thousand Oaks City Council decided it would not pursue a red-light enforcement program that snaps photographs of violators." .... ""In a nutshell, basically, we don't have a large problem in Thousand Oaks," Parks said." ["T.O. City Council opts to use officers, not cameras, at red lights", Jessica Smith, Ventura County Star, 1/11/2002]

January 12, 2002 - California newspaper editorial notes red light camera fad waning: "What might be called "the red-light camera fad" in Southern California cities seems to be running out of gas. Thousand Oaks recently decided against installing automated photo red-light cameras, by a unanimous vote of the City Council." .... "In the case of Thousand Oaks, statistics gathered in a private study showed that not enough drivers were running red lights in the city to warrant spending the money to install cameras. " .... "In one city, the camera company refused to install cameras at some intersections, because those intersections weren't projected to produce enough revenue for the company." ...."As late as a year ago, the camera program was something of a political bandwagon that many cities were climbing aboard. But as the recent Thousand Oaks decision attests, that bandwagon has run into a traffic signal that's already yellow and may soon turn red." ["Red Light Cameras Falling From Favor", Editorial, Ventura County Star, January 12, 2002]

January 13, 2002 - Florida resident describes Tampa Bay conditions: "I would like to bring the subject of red-light running to the attention of your readers and of local law enforcement agencies. The amount of red-light running in the Tampa Bay area is now at epidemic proportions. Each year, many people (usually law abiding, innocent people) are killed by individuals running red lights at intersections. During my drive to and from work each day, I witness at least one incident of red-light running. Sometimes the drivers are so bold they will run the light in direct view of a police officer. Yet, more often than not, the officer will do nothing." ["Drivers who run red lights are dangerous", David S. Maughan, Tarpon Springs, Letters, St. Petersburg Times, 1/13/2002]

January 14, 2002 - San Diego Red Light Camera Audit Report released. Excerpts:

"The most significant change in the number of violations occurred at the intersection of Mission Bay Drive and Grand (1541) where the yellow change interval was extended from 3.1 seconds to 4.7 seconds. This change resulted in an 88-percent decrease in the number of violations. At the five other intersections, the number of violations dropped significantly in response to longer yellow times." ["City of San Diego Enforcement System Review Final Report", PB Farradyne Inc., January 14, 2002, Chapter 6 (Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations Improvements", page 78] (there was no public disclosure of the yellow increases when they happened or the results from making them)

"The measured reduction in red light running violations at intersections where cameras have been operational for six months varies from 20 percent to nearly 24 percent."......"The measured reduction in red light running violations remain constant as the cameras are operated for longer periods of time." ["City of San Diego Enforcement System Review Final Report", PB Farradyne Inc., January 14, 2002, Chapter 2 "Red light Running and Accidents", page 8] (NOTE: There are strong indications that the reductions in violations noted included those from increasing the yellow at 6 of the 19 intersections. Don't forget that California has some of the harshest penalties in the USA for red light camera tickets.)

"Figure 2-12 shows that, after photo enforcement, the average RE [rear end] accident rates increased by 62 percent for the enforced movement and by nearly 43 percent for the non-enforced movements, respectively. Photo enforcement resulted in significantly higher RE accident rates at photo-enforced intersections where a THM [through movement] was enforced, especially for the enforced THM movement." ["City of San Diego Enforcement System Review Final Report", PB Farradyne Inc., January 14, 2002, Chapter 2 "Red light Running and Accidents", page 17] (enforcement programs that increase accidents of any type and cause harm to the public in any way are not acceptable as public policy under any circumstance)

January 14, 2002

RESULTS FROM INCREASING YELLOW TIMES AT 6 of 19 SAN DIEGO RED LIGHT CAMERA SITES:

SOURCE:
San Diego Photo Enforcement System Review
PB Farradyne
January 14, 2002
Chapter 6 Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations Improvements
SECTION 6.1.2 LONGER YELLOW CHANGE INTERVALS
FIGURE 6.1 PAGE 79
(Date of Yellow Increases Not Indicated)
http://www.sandiego.gov/police/pdf/photochap6.pdf

January 14, 2002 - "The most significant change in the number of violations occurred at the intersection of Mission Bay Drive and Grand (1541) where the yellow change interval was extended from 3.1 seconds to 4.7 seconds. This change resulted in an 88-percent decrease in the number of violations. At the five other intersections, the number of violations dropped significantly in response to longer yellow times." ["City of San Diego Enforcement System Review Final Report", PB Farradyne Inc., January 14, 2002, Chapter 6 (Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations Improvements", page 78] (there was no public disclosure of the yellow increases when they happened or the results from making them)

January 14, 2002 - VA State Delegate, in a town hall meeting in Vienna predicts demise of red light cameras in Virginia: „When the photo-red light program is over, it‚s done,‰ [VA] Del. Jeannemarie Devolites (R-35th) told constituents at a town meeting Jan. 19 in Vienna." ["Lawmakers Predict Demise of Red-Light Cameras", Brian Trompeter, Sun Gazette Newspaper, 1/31-2/6, 2002]

January 16, 2002 - Warsaw, Indiana Mayor describes unreliability of traffic light timings: "Green does not mean go for drivers in Warsaw, Ind., where traffic on U.S. 30 tends to run red lights at busy intersections. "Most of us know that when the light turns green, you do not go," said Mayor Ernie Wiggins. "You don't just go. You wait to see." ["Red light camera bill gets another go this year", Dan McFeely, Indianapolis Star, 1/16/02]

January 17, 2002 - Clearwater, Florida enforcement officials weigh in: "You can never tell. Some days everybody is complying," said Officer Greg Schuster, one of the motorcycle cops working Wednesday. "And the next day, everybody's running." .... ""Most of them are not even close," Bickel [Traffic officer Greg Bickel] said. That description applied to a young man who ran his gold car through a light that turned red at least three car lengths before he was under the light. And to a semitrailer truck that roared through two to three seconds after the light went red." ["White light reveals red-light runners", CHRIS TISCH, St. Petersburg Times, 1/17/2002]

January 18, 2002 - "Ventura revenues also missed the mark because there were a lot fewer red-light runners than expected, he [Ventura Traffic Engineer Tom Mericle] said. "We assumed we would average 20 violations per day at each intersection during the first year," Mericle said." .... "He said the city used a number of criteria, including looking at those intersections with the most accidents caused by red-light runners. The city also considered intersections with the most traffic, and whether staff had done everything it could to make the intersections safer, including lengthening the time for yellow lights." ["Ventura's red-light cameras fail to fulfill fiscal hopes", John Scheibe, Ventura County Star, 1/18/2002]

January 19, 2002 - "The majority of people we stopped knew we were out there," said Pinellas Sheriff's Deputy Jim Bordner, who organized the operation. One was a woman who wondered aloud "what kind of idiot would get caught running a red light after it was on TV," Bordner said. "She mentioned that to the deputy as he was writing her a ticket," Bordner said." ["Police Debut New Tactics, Equipment In Latest Traffic Safety Exercises", STEPHEN THOMPSON, The Tampa Tribune, 1/19/2002]

January 20, 2002 - Pitch for red light cameras in Alaska surfaces: "Jack Simmers sees drivers blowing through red lights nearly every morning as he heads south on LaTouche Street at Northern Lights Boulevard, taking his kids to school. "I don't pull out after the light turns green," he said. "You can almost guarantee there's one that will go through the red light." ["Red-light runners may get snapped; ROGERS PARK: Council wants city to consider cameras at intersections", Rosemary Shinohara, Anchorage Daily News, 1/20/2002]

January 20, 2002 - "About 70 U.S. cities use red-light cameras. They have proved to be the best way to stop red-light runners, short of getting rid of the lights altogether, says Richard Retting, senior transportation engineer for the national Insurance Institute of Highway Safety in Arlington, VA. "There's nothing that comes close," Retting said. ["Red Light Runners May Get Snapped", Rosemary Shinohara, Anchorage Daily News, 1/20/02]

There is something much better than red light cameras, following the prescribed recommended practice:

"The primary measure of effectiveness for the yellow interval is the percent of vehicles entering the intersection after the termination of the yellow indication; that is, during the red following the yellow." ...... "When the percent of vehicles that are last through the intersection which enter on red exceeds that which is locally acceptable (many agencies use a value of one to three percent), the yellow interval should be lengthened until the percentage conforms to local standards." ["Determining Vehicle Change Intervals - A Proposed Recommended Practice", Institute of Transportation Engineers, Washington, D.C., 1985, page 6]

Examples:

See September 24, 1998 entry for Alexandria, VA

See Feb/Mar 1999 entry for Alexandria, VA

See November 2000 entry for Mesa, AZ

See May 16, 2001 for Fairfax County, VA

See January 14, 2002 entry for San Diego, CA

See 1/31/02 entry for Vienna, VA

January 25, 2002 - National Motorists Association http://motorists.org/ launches $10,000 ticket camera challenge: "In an open letter to regional governments, including the government of the District of Columbia, the NMA challenged area officials to adopt longer [yellow] intervals for a test period: If the incidence of red-light running did not decline by at least 50 percent, the NMA Foundation would donate $10,000 to any traffic-safety program the locality wishes to fund. But if red-light running decreases, as NMA argues it will, the other end of the deal is that the use of automated cameras be ditched." ["Traffic-Safety Challenge", Editorial, The Washington Times, 1/25/02]

January 28, 2002 - San Marcos, CA accidents reported on: "The leading cause of collisions at the intersections with the 10 highest number of accidents was a driver failing to yield the right of way or speeding. At almost all of the San Marcos Boulevard intersections with the highest number of accidents, speeding was the leading cause." .... "San Marcos reviews traffic accident data on a monthly basis, he [city engineer Alan Schuler] said. Engineers try to do as much as possible to prevent accidents at busy intersections by adjusting the timing of traffic signals and installing traffic signals where needed." .... "He said drivers often set themselves up for accidents by driving through an intersection long after the light turns yellow. Some lights have longer yellow cycles than others, he said. Schuler said many drivers will also turn left just as the turn-lane arrow turns red, increasing the chances of an accident. " ["Most SM accidents take place on busier roads ", KATHERINE MARKS, North County Times, 1/28/2002]

January 31, 2002 - Vienna, VA acknowledges engineering countermeasures. Plans for more cameras canceled: "Vienna officials made several other changes to reduce red-light running. The town added brighter signals, longer yellow lights and an extra signal at Follin Lane and Maple Avenue. The results speak for themselves: police issued 4,000 summonses in 2000, but only 1,500 last year, said Vienna Police Capt. John Cheyne. Because infractions are down, Vienna police are renegotiating a contract with the camera vendor. Instead of adding three new cameras to the current three, police would like to shift cameras away from Lawyers Road and Maple Avenue and the Nutley Street and Tapawingo Road intersections.["Lawmakers Predict Demise of Red Light Cameras", Brian Trompeter, Sun-Gazette Newspaper, 1/31-2/6, 2002]

February 2, 2002 - AZ Senators wants lengthened yellows; Signal Analyst very worried: "Two state senators want to reduce red-light running by making yellow-light times longer. Sen. Dean Martin, R-Phoenix, and Sen. Scott Bundgaard, R-Glendale, each cite a pronounced decline in red-light camera violations in Mesa after the city increased yellow-light times on double-lane left-turn arrows to four seconds from three. They also said red-light camera tickets were cut in half." ... "Phoenix and Mesa have among the worst records in the country for vehicle accidents associated with red-light running, according to traffic safety experts. But the senators' plan has at least one traffic expert nervous. "I'm very worried," said Steve Ramsey, Scottsdale signal system analyst. "This will increase congestion, pollution, road rage and increase accidents." ["Two lawmakers want yellow light times longer at traffic stops", Associated Press, Mesa, AZ., 2/2/2002]

February 3, 2002 - Vienna, VA police chief acknowledges considerable improvements in Vienna (after engineering countermeasures used) and notes that losses from the red light cameras are mounting: "In 2000, the first full year of the technology's use in Vienna, the town issued tickets for 4,000 violations, said Police Chief Bob Carlisle, who spoke in favor of the bill. The next year, that number dropped to just over 1,400. The town, Carlisle said, has lost $184,000 since last July (typo....should read through July as per Chief Carlisle) but continues to fund the cameras in the budget because of the results. Additionally, Carlisle said, accidents and red light violations are down at intersections where there are no cameras." ["House committee kills photo red legislation", MICHAEL NEIBAUER, Journal Newspaper, 2/3/2002]

February 3, 2002 - Georgia legislator who pushed red light cameras unveils part B of the red light camera Trojan Horse, photo radar: "Even as two metro area cities gear up to cite red light runners with intersection cameras, a Georgia lawmaker is proposing to bring the technology into school zones to nab speeders. Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield said this week she will introduce legislation this session that would allow local governments to install photo radar in school zones and cite those who endanger children by disregarding school zone speed limits. The Decatur Democrat has some success in this area. She was co- sponsor of the measure that legalized red light cameras last year." ["Photo radar urged near schools", Joey Ledford, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/3/02]

February 2002 - Vienna, VA removes one of its three red light cameras (from Maple Ave/Lawyers Road intersection - not enough violators), reported to be reinstalled elsewhere later. The two operational cameras record 0.73 violators per day (less than one per day) on average in 1st quarter 2002.

February, 2002 - All proposals to expand photo enforcement in Virginia are rejected by the legislature. Those proposals provided for statewide red light camera use, removing current red light camera sunset provisions, a tripling of red light camera ticket fines, and unlimited use statewide of photo radar speed enforcement.

February 26, 2002 - Maryland officials hold red light camera symposium: "Red light cameras remain controversial. The public's suspicion of various programs now in place has been driven by some highly publicized cases of abuse by local officials and their contractors, primarily in San Diego. In that city, the operation of the cameras was turned over to a private contractor who stood to make a substantial profit from the $275 citations that would result from violations. It was documented that, in some intersections, the yellow light segment was shortened to induce more drivers to run the red light. A group of residents brought a class-action suit against the city, which they eventually won, resulting in the tickets being thrown out and the camera system shut down." ..... "One of the things that I think will create some problems for them is a statistic that shows the number of rear-end collisions is higher in intersections where red light cameras have been added. The reasons for this are simple. More people tend to slam on their brakes to stop when they come upon an intersection where cameras are in place. The spin on this is that this kind of accident isn't fatal as often as a side-impact collision where one vehicle in an intersection is struck by a vehicle traveling on the road joining from the perpendicular. Truth is, the increase in rear-end crashes was one of the main reasons the red light camera system in Honolulu was shut down for a period of time. The public was shocked at the higher number of incidents and wanted to know what was going on." ["State includes groups to discuss red light camera issues, solutions", Steve Eldridge, Sprawl and Crawl, The Journal Newspaper, 2/26/2002 http://199.244.139.109/dcwww?-show:client/journal/MTG/j2002/q1/m02/t26/pa/s006/002_001_001.dcs ]

February 26, 2002 - MD state agency claims red light cameras work but Montgomery County police admit data not analyzed and the jury is still out: "Written testimony submitted by the state agency said the State Highway Administration and local governments "sponsored a major effort to reduce red light running through traditional and innovative law enforcement techniques. This program achieved little success." ... "On the other hand, red light cameras are proving successful not only in reducing red light running, but apparently reducing the types of traffic accidents normally associated with such behavior...," the department said." .... "Cpl. Lawrence Plant, who supervises the red light program for Montgomery County Police, said his county opposes Mooney's bill because the use of cameras appears to be improving highway safety. But he said the statistical evidence has not yet been gathered and analyzed and that the jury is still out on how effective it will be." ["Senator seeks ban on using cameras to catch red light runners", Tom Stuckey, Associated Press, Annapolis, MD 2/26/2002] (Montgomery County commenced red light camera enforcement in November 1999, 27 months prior)

(Note: Subsequent independent reviews of red light camera and accident data had mixed and inconclusive results...see entry May 9, 2002)

February 28, 2002 - Red Light Cameras on back burner in Temecula, CA: "A program to put cameras at the city's busiest intersections to catch red-light runners remains on the table nearly three years after it was initially proposed while city officials debate the costs and liabilities." .... "Moghadam said that even though installing the cameras will likely result in more citations being handed out to red-light violators, the cameras wouldn't be moneymakers for the city. The companies that install them typically want a substantial percentage of the ticket revenue the cameras generate. Lock heed Martin, for example, wanted 50 percent to 80 percent of the ticket revenue generated by their system. Moghadam also said the impact the red-light cameras have on the actual safety of intersections is still uncertain. "Right now with the information we have, there is no conclusive evidence that these cameras would make intersections safer," said Moghadam, noting that the causes of accidents at intersections are numerous. "As far as reducing the number of people running through red lights, they may." ["Traffic cameras still on back burner", MATHIEU BLACKSTON, North County Times, 2/28/2002]

March 2, 2002 - FT Wayne, Indiana announces plan to use red light cameras without legislative approval: ""Fort Wayne officials won't wait any longer for lawmakers to give the green light to red-light cameras. The state's second-largest city will soon be its first with the high-tech devices, which take pictures of vehicles that run red lights. The move comes despite the defeat of a proposed state law that would have given municipalities more authority to install them. Fort Wayne could have four to 10 red-light cameras operating by early summer." ["Fort Wayne to install red-light cameras - Officials will use devices to catch motorists running stoplights, despite failure of proposal in Statehouse.", Mike Ellis, Indianapolis Star, March 2, 2002]

FT. Wayne, Indiana reverses course two months later:

"City officials are stuck at a long red light in their efforts to install cameras to catch motorists who ignore stop signals. Officials had hoped to have digital cameras in place at the most accident-prone intersections by May or June, but city council members said Friday they now must wait until after next year's legislative session because of an overlooked provision of state law." ["Fort Wayne must wait to install cameras at red lights", Rocky Mountain News, May 12, 2002]

March 2002 - National Agenda for Intersection Safety Identified: "6. Engineering. Participants in the group believe there is a substantial deficiency in the understanding of the need for regular signal retiming programs. Proper signal timing is not universally achieved or maintained in numerous jurisdictions due to manpower and budget constraints. The workshop participants believe that there is a need to educate communities, political leaders, and safety and transportation professionals on the safety and operational benefits of signal retiming. In addition, both new and current traffic engineers need substantial training on how to time a traffic signal." ..... "8. Red-light running. Issues with regard to red-light running include: the need to clarify the benefits and dispel the myths associated with automated enforcement and the need to correctly calculate appropriate yellow clearance times at traffic signals. The workshop participants cited the need to develop a best-practices manual that would show successful strategies, avoid pitfalls and build support. The participants supported increased enforcement, including the use of cameras as a solution where engineering and education efforts have not worked." ["National agenda for intersection safety", Edward R Stollof/Hari Kalla, Institute of Transportation Engineers, ITE Journal, Washington, March 2002]

March 3, 2002 - Vienna, VA reports very good results from using engineering countermeasures, especially considering most of the 2001 violations were in the 1st quarter, before the last engineering countermeasure was implemented: "In 2000, Vienna issued 4,000 photo citations to red-light runners. In 2001, that number fell to 1,498. Cheyne [Captain John Cheyne, Vienna PD] said the decrease is due in part to improvements at the three intersections prompted by the videotaped violations. Over the past two years, the town has enlarged traffic signals, put in rumble strips and increased the duration of some yellow lights from four to five seconds." ["Caught on tape?", Elizabeth Waters, The Free Lance-Star Newspaper, Fredericksburg, VA., 3/3/2002]

March 3, 2002 - Alexandria, VA official says Alexandria was "careful" in selecting intersections for red light camera program: "Bertsch [Alexandria PD spokesperson] said Alexandria was careful in selecting intersections for the camera. The city has one camera that is rotated among three intersections. "It wasn't like we just decided, let's have photo red lights. We chose intersections where we'd already done everything we could to improve safety," she said." ["Caught on tape?", Elizabeth Waters, The Free Lance-Star Newspaper, Fredericksburg, VA., 3/3/2002] (still no mention of the yellow increases or the results from making them)

For context: "[By email] I have answered the questionnaire and attached some charts of our violations-per-pass experience which illustrate the importance of "other" considerations on the rate at which red lights are violated. At both Patrick/Gibbon and Seminary/Nottingham (charts 2 and 3) other factors significantly contributed to steep drops in our rate of red light running. In the case of Patrick and Gibbon the cause was a retiming of the lights immediately preceding this intersection which had a profound impact. Similarly, the retiming of the yellow phase at Seminary and Nottingham had a dramatic effect." [Mark Canoyer, Tech. Services Div. Chief, Alexandria Police Department, September, 2001, "Evaluation of Traffic Engineering Aspects of Photo Monitoring Programs in Virginia", Virginia Department of Transportation, 5/7/02, page 75](special note: the yellow was increased at Patrick/Gibbon as well as per Alexandria traffic signal operators)

"Insurance Institute spokesman Russ Rader said this portion of Armey's report is "completely false." "Yellow-light timing is not something arbitrary that someone can just change. It is set by an organization of traffic engineers who consider factors such as what type of road it is and the speed of vehicles," he said." ["Caught on tape?", Elizabeth Waters, The Free Lance-Star Newspaper, Fredericksburg, VA., 3/3/2002] (The yellow time is exactly something arbitrary that "someone can just change".)

March 8, 2002 - Poltech letter to shareholders about its photo enforcement business: "POLTECH won new business in two major American States in the six months to December 31st. Income from these installations is now being generated and will flow beyond three years. Important sales of our latest generation products were also made into Spain, the A.C.T. and Tasmania. The American contracts are in the States of Hawaii ˆ the first full state program ˆ and in Howard County Maryland, the pre-eminent local authority on red light cameras in the US." .... "POLTECH is especially pleased with the acceptance of both its safety/speed cameras and red light systems in the USA. The mix of 12 safety/speed camera vans and 20 red light systems in the two contracts mentioned above ensures substantial ongoing cash flows over at least three years." .... "POLTECH now has the capability to provide a complete solution to its customers. POLTECH provides a variety of front-end solutions; laser, radar, loops for red lights, speed and red light/safety requirements as well as an integrated adjudication system and full back-office operation. The first of these full installations will be operational in the State of Oregon USA where POLTECH has previously announced it had won the contract to supply both red light and speed cameras." [Dear shareholders letter by Peter King, Chairman and Michael Walsh, Managing Director, Poltech, Inc. 3/8/2002 http://www.poltech.com.au/database.asp ]

April 10, 2002 - Hawaii camera enforcement program halted just four weeks later. see entry 4/10/2002

March 10, 2002 - Red light camera advocate claims accident spillover effect from red light camera enforcement in Oxnard, CA: "Oxnard used cameras at only 11 of the city's 125 intersections, and crashes declined everywhere." ["800 people a year die at U.S. intersections", Judith Lee Stone, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Ventura County Star, March 10, 2002]

NOTE: Despite over two years of red light camera enforcement, Oxnard nevertheless managed to have 10 of Ventura County's top 15 most accident prone intersections (see entry November 1999). Oxnard began increasing yellow light durations as a result.

"Disappointing findings include: 1) Overall crash experience (all accident types) at all intersections has only decreased by less than 1% and 2) Only 12 of 17 locations experienced an overall crash reduction (all accident types) on the camera approach." ["SafeLight Analysis 2001", City of Charlotte, by dszymanski, Reptsum.doc, Microsoft Word, 9/26/01]

No spillover effects in San Diego: "The accident data analysis has not accounted for any Citywide trends or changes in the incidence of accidents attributable to red light running." ["City of San Diego Enforcement System Review Final Report", PB Farradyne Inc., January 14, 2002, Section 2.2 "Accidents Before and After Photo Enforcement", page 10]

"I would have to say that the cameras themselves have not reduced the number of (injury) collisions that have happened at these intersections," said Elizabeth Yard, an analyst with the San Diego Police Department's traffic division. -- San Diego Union-Tribune, 9/2/01

"And it's true in a few intersections we found a few more accidents than prior to the red light photo enforcement. At some intersections we saw no change at all, and at several intersections we actually saw an increase in traffic accidents." [San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano, ABC News: Nightline (11:35 PM AM ET), 7/30/01, Ted Koppel (Host)]

March 10, 2002 - Missouri Senate Panel rejects red light cameras: "Despite an attempt at compromise, a state Senate panel defeated legislation Tuesday that would have let police use cameras to catch motorists running red lights." ["SENATE PANEL REJECTS LEGISLATION TO USE CAMERA EYE TO CATCH TRAFFIC VIOLATORS; INVASION OF PRIVACY, MACHINES DOING HUMAN WORK WERE MAIN CONCERNS", Paul Sloca, Associated Press, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/10/2002]

March 11, 2002 - Kansas red light cameras studied: "Working at Overland Park City Hall, traffic engineer Brian Shields is a couple of miles from the congestion near Oak Park Mall." .... "He's got hundreds of photos of red-light runners narrowly avoiding accidents near the mall and at another Overland Park intersection." .... "The cameras - at 95th Street and Quivira Road, and at 119th Street and Hawthorne Plaza - are part of a study to help the state determine if they are effective at catching and deterring red-light runners. No traffic tickets or warnings are being issued. Olathe also is testing the cameras for the state at Santa Fe Street and Mur-Len Road." .... "The Kansas Department of Transportation continues to study the matter. Results are expected this fall." .... ""All indications from other jurisdictions are that from an engineering and a technical standpoint, it's a very effective way of reducing this problem," said Bob Stokes, a Kansas State University civil engineering professor who is studying the cameras for the state." ["Camera captures red-light runners; No tickets yet as Olathe studies setup", Brad Cooper, The Kansas City Star, March 11, 2002]

Question: Are they studying the lights and other engineering issues and, if so, will the results be published? If not, why not?

March 15, 2002 - Police Chief Charles Moose of Montgomery County MD, in an interview on WTOP radio, expresses his frustration that red light violations continue to increase along with his hopes that people driving will start getting the message. "Well, the red light cameras are doing what we want. It is frustrating that our numbers continue to go up, so we're hoping at some point the message goes out and people change their behavior." [At 52:17 into the broadcast, Chief Charles Moose in response to a question about how the cameras are doing, "Ask The Chief"; Featuring Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, WTOP Radio 3/15/2002][27 months after start of rlc enforcement in Montgomery County]

"Though the effect of higher fines may be unclear, the impact of the increasing use of red-light cameras is not. A study in 1999 by the Insurance Institute showed that no matter what the fine, red-light running decreased the same amount as long as cameras are used for enforcement, Retting says." ["Stiff Fines May Help Drivers See the Red (Light)", Jessie Halladay, USA Today, 2/6/01]

""People still aren't stopping, and it's a dangerous location,"police spokeswoman Amy Bertsch [Alexandria Police spokesperson] said of the intersection [Patrick and Gibbon]. "Pedestrians have been struck trying to cross that intersection."["Clicking Away at Red-Light Runners", Patricia Davis, The Washington Post, 10/8/98]

"The Virginia Department of Transportation found when it increased the yellow time at one of the state's red light camera intersections [US50 and Fair Ridge Drive], red light running dropped to almost nothing. " ["Forced To Run The Red?", Elaine Murphy, KOIN News, Beaverton, Oregon, 5/16/2001]

March 15, 2002 - Montgomery County MD county executive Doug Duncan calls for 20 more red light cameras in county budget.

March 19, 2002 - Red light camera proponents see the importance of light timing issues as laughing matter?: "Proponents of camera systems say that traffic engineers laugh when they hear accusations of shorter yellow-light times. "They're the only people who are allowed to set the yellow-light time in most places, not the police or the vendor running the camera program, and they traditionally follow national engineering standards. Their concern is safety," says Leslie Blakey, coordinator of the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running." ["As stoplight cameras spread, drivers see red", By Craig Savoye | Special to The Christian Science Monitor, March 19, 2002]

November 1994 - IIHS begins counting red light runners at US50 and Fillmore in Arlington for "RED LIGHT RUNNING AND SENSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES" - "A study conducted over several months at two busy intersections in Arlington, Virginia (an urban area outside Washington, D.C.), indicates that motorists frequently run red lights. Red-light running was monitored using a microprocessor-based GATSO red-light camera at two sites between November 1994 and March 1995 (only one direction at each intersection was observed)." ["Red-Light Running and Sensible Countermeasures - Summary of Research Findings", Retting/Williams/Greene, Transportation Research Record 1640, Paper No. 98-0895] [R.A. Retting and A.F. Williams, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201, M.A. Greene, User Technology Associates, 4301 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201.] [SPECIAL NOTE: One of the intersections was the eastbound US50 approach at Fillmore St. in Arlington, where the yellow time on the light was increased from 4.00 to 4.50 seconds by Arlington County on August 1, 1997, according to Arlington County officials (AFTER THE COUNTING OF "RED LIGHT RUNNERS")]

Description of US50 at Fillmore in Arlington: "At Site 1, a divided six-lane, high-speed [72-km/h (45mph)] principal arterial, 6,171 violations were observed during 1,176 hr (5.2 per hour)." ...... "Both locations had 4-sec yellow signal phases, which was deemed adequate." ["Red-Light Running and Sensible Countermeasures", section "Frequency of Red-Light Running", Retting/Williams/Greene, Transportation Research Record 1640, Paper No.98-0895][R.A. Retting and A.F. Williams, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201. M.A. Greene, User Technology Associates, 4301 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22201] (NOTE: The US50 eastbound approach to Fillmore Street is downhill at a 4-4.50 percent gradient, as per VDOT roadway profile drawings)

Description of "red light runners" counted by IIHS under dangerously inadequate four second yellow light at US50 and Fillmore in Arlington, VA (Yellow increased in August 1997, after the counts): "The deliberate running of red lights is a common - and a serious - violation. Institute researchers measuring the frequency of this offense during several months at a busy intersection in Arlington County, Virginia, found a red light runner every 12 minutes on average - every 5 minutes during the peak travel time between 8 and 9 a.m. This adds up to more than 100 chances each day for an unsuspecting motorists or pedestrian to become a crash victim at just one intersection." ["Statement before the Kentucky Senate Transportation Committee - On red light violations and red light cameras", Richard A. Retting, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 3/9/2000, page 1]

"To most people, stealing is a moral issue. It's ingrained in people. People would feel guilty about shoplifting," said Allan F. Williams, a researcher with the Insurance Institute for Highway safety. "I don't see the same thing on the highway. If I run a red light when there's no one to contend with, that's not considered much of anything." Indeed, his institute recently studied the intersection of Route 50 and Fillmore Street in Arlington County for several months and found that drivers go through a red light an average of once every 12 minutes -- and every five minutes during the peak 8 a.m. hour. ["Guilty, But Feeling Guilt-Free", Alan Sipress & Josh White, The Washington Post, 7/16/2000] [NOTE: No mention of yellow increase on 8/1/97 as per Arlington County, after red light runners were counted, or the results from increasing it.]

August 1, 1997 - Arlington VA increases the yellow at US50 and Fillmore Street, a study site for red light cameras by IIHS, from 4.00 to 4.50 seconds. (Yellow increase and results from making it not disclosed.)

"The yellow time for the east and westbound Route 50 was increased from 4.00 seconds to 4.50 seconds on August 1, 1997. The current yellow time is 4.50 seconds." [Email: "Subject: Re: US50 at Fillmore Street - Arlington - Signals", Daniel Worke, Engineering Program Coordinator, Arlington County, Wednesday, July 25, 2001 2:58 PM]

"Our records for Fillmore Street indicate that the amber there was increased to 4.5 seconds on August 1, 1997." [Correspondence by Mr. Joseph M. Durkee Jr., Traffic Engineer, Arlington County, 4/15/2002, Microsoft Word 118811A]

""People still aren't stopping, and it's a dangerous location,"police spokeswoman Amy Bertsch [Alexandria Police spokesperson] said of the intersection [Patrick and Gibbon]. "Pedestrians have been struck trying to cross that intersection."["Clicking Away at Red-Light Runners", Patricia Davis, The Washington Post, 10/8/98]

"[By email] I have answered the questionnaire and attached some charts of our violations-per-pass experience which illustrate the importance of "other" considerations on the rate at which red lights are violated. At both Patrick/Gibbon and Seminary/Nottingham (charts 2 and 3) other factors significantly contributed to steep drops in our rate of red light running. In the case of Patrick and Gibbon the cause was a retiming of the lights immediately preceding this intersection which had a profound impact. Similarly, the retiming of the yellow phase at Seminary and Nottingham had a dramatic effect." [Mark Canoyer, Tech. Services Div. Chief, Alexandria Police Department, September, 2001, "Evaluation of Traffic Engineering Aspects of Photo Monitoring Programs in Virginia", Virginia Department of Transportation, 5/7/02, page 75](special note: the yellow was increased at Patrick/Gibbon as well as per Alexandria traffic signal operators)

March 20, 2002 - Maryland legislature kills photo radar legislation: "State legislators have killed a bill that would have allowed police to use radar-triggered cameras to catch speeders." ...... "The bill was a priority for Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, D, and Police Chief Charles A. Moose." ["Speed camera measure killed", SARA MICHAEL, The Journal Newspaper, 3/20/2002]

March 28, 2002 - Bladensburg, MD in Prince George's County removed it's five red light cameras, according to a news report by NBC4 in Washington. Mayor of Bladensburg said people started obeying the red lights and therefore the cameras weren't needed anymore. But how could that be when cameras are not "working" in Montgomery County right next door!

March 29, 2002 - Vienna's (VA) red light camera vendor, Nestor, announces $$$ probs: "As a result of the Company's limited capital resources at December 31, 2001 and its need to realize additional equity and capital equipment financing to meet its operating needs, the December 31, 2001 audit opinion issued by our independent auditors will include language regarding the Company's ability to continue as a going concern." ["Nestor, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End Results", Press Release, SOURCE: Nestor, Inc., 3/29/2002, http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020329/292096_1.html ]

March 31, 2002 - Ventura CA eye witness weighs in about accidents. Ventura CA engineer scoffs at engineering solutions: "Brian Lunetta works as a mechanic next to one of Ventura's busiest intersections. "I've noticed a lot more drivers slamming on their brakes and hitting other cars in front of them since the camera went in here," said Lunetta, a manager at Buena Auto Care at Telephone Road and Victoria Avenue. "If you ask me, I'd much rather see a cop out here doing their job than the cameras." .... "As to the challenge to lengthen yellow-light times, both Turner [Sgt. John Turner, Ventura Police Department] and Mericle [Tom Mericle, Ventura's traffic engineer] said studies show motorists will use the added time to drive through the intersection. "Given the chance, they'll use all the time they can get," Mericle said. ["Ventura will install more cameras", John Scheibe, Ventura County Star, 3/31/2002]

"Research has consistently shown that drivers do not, in fact, adapt to the length of the yellow." ["Determining Vehicle Change Intervals - A Proposed Recommended Practice", Institute of Transportation Engineers, Washington, D.C., 1985, page 8]

March 2002 - Alexandria Councilman Speck acknowledges yellow light increases but attributes reduced violations to red light cameras: ""The measure of success with red light cameras is how well they reduce red light violations, and our cameras have done that very well," he [Councilman David Speck] says." ...."Speck also notes that the city has adjusted yellow light duration at intersections with and without cameras." ["Taking Red Light Cameras to task", Josh Jacquot, Senior Editor, Sport Compact Car Magazine, July 2002 http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/archives/slipangle/slipangle_0702.shtml ] (Note that the article was written in March 2002 and published in July 2002 edition)

April 1, 2002 - Weekly Standard magazine publishes first of a five part series on red light cameras: ["Inside the District's Red Lights", Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard, 4/1/2002 http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/078ftoqz.asp (all five parts can be accessed from this weblink)

April 10, 2002 - Hawaii halts use of traffic cameras - "Gov. Ben Cayetano on Wednesday ordered a halt to the use of cameras to catch speeders, a safety measure many Hawaii motorists considered so underhanded they tried to subvert the system. Cayetano said the Legislature was about to repeal the program anyway. ``The traffic van cam law is the creation of the Legislature, and if they want to now cancel the program it will be canceled,'' he said in a statement." ["Hawaii Halts Use of Traffic Cameras", Bruce Dunford, Associated Press, Honolulu, 4/10/02]

April 29, 2002 - Red Light Camera problems in Sacramento County revealed: "Sacramento County's red light camera system is in limbo. No new tickets are being given, and some past tickets may never be prosecuted." ["Language Puts Brakes On Red Light Camera Tickets", http://www.thekcrachannel.com/sac/news/localnews/stories/news-localnews-142459920020429-180434.html ]

April 2002 - The total number of photo enforcement camera tickets in Washington, D.C. stands at 577,074 thru April 2002, according to MPDC statistics, an amount essentially equal to the entire city population based on census figures. The number of photo radar camera tickets shows as 279,134. The number of Red Light Camera tickets shows as 297,940. Estimated Total Camera Ticket Fines (assuming $75.00 each) = $43, 280,550.00.

May 1, 2002 - American Automobile Association expresses preference for engineering solution to "red light running": "AAA recommended today that local jurisdictions considering red-light cameras should first apply all practical traffic engineering countermeasures." .... "While recognizing the dangers of the alarming increase of crashes due to red-light running, delegates to the AAA Annual Meeting, celebrating the association's centennial, gave strong support to specific engineering measures designed to reduce these crashes. These include engineering improvements such as adjusting signal timing, making lane improvements, evaluating sight-distances and improving signage. "Although some local jurisdictions are looking at red-light cameras as the quick fix, it is not always the most effective means of reducing crashes at intersections," said Susan G. Pikrallidas, vice president of AAA Public Affairs." ["Red-Light Cameras Should Not Replace Sound Traffic Engineering, AAA Says", Business Wire, Chicago, May 1, 2002]

May 2, 2002 - Sacramento Red Light Camera program suspended pending issue resolution: "Local authorities said Wednesday they are convinced their red-light cameras are in working order, but it may be months before tickets are sent out again. Citations were halted April 19 when an officer preparing for a court case noticed a discrepancy between the cameras' operating manual and the laws on how violations are calculated. Sacramento County Sheriff's Sgt. James Lewis said Wednesday it would take about a week to test all 17 cameras in the Sacramento area and prove that it's merely the manual, and not the camera equipment, that's in error. But both the county and the city of Sacramento want to change the way they pay for their red-light camera programs, a process that Lewis said could drag on for up to three months. Tickets won't be issued until that process is complete, he said." .... "Both local authorities and ACS officials said they were frustrated that such a minor glitch could effectively shut down the region's red-light cameras and prompt the district attorney to stop prosecuting cases. "I wish we could have sat down and talked with Jan (Scully) about this before she made the decision," said Maury Hannigan, a former CHP commissioner who is now the head of the ACS public safety solutions division." ["County testing red-light cameras It could take months to resume giving tickets as payment is reviewed, too.", Matthew Barrows, Sacramento Bee, 5/2/2002]

May 2, 2002 - Phoenix, AZ red light cameras record thousands of violators: "And members of the Albuquerque Police Department, which is looking into obtaining one of the systems, went to Phoenix earlier this week to see how they work." .... "Photo red light systems are used in several Arizona cities, including Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale. Phoenix Police Sgt. Mike Hein, who supervises that city's photo-safety program, said the first red-light systems were installed in September. By the end of last year, the city had 11 cameras at 10 of the worst intersections." ....."In March alone, Hein said, the system recorded 6,538 red-light violations and 40 percent to 50 percent of the recorded violations result in a ticket. "Even though it's still ... in the infancy stage, violations at those intersections have gone down," Hein said, adding some of the intersections have seen drops of 50 percent to 60 percent." ["Cameras Catch Red-Light Runners", Jeff Jones, Albuquerque Journal, 5/2/2002]

Context/background:

Lieutenant Wayne Lorch, Phoenix PD, speaking about upcoming Phoenix red light camera enforcement: "Well, our primary goal is compliance, voluntary compliance." [EXCERPTS FROM Transcript of the On The Issues that aired on June 23 - July 6, 2001 http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/11/trans-stanton-june23.html ]

"Phoenix Police Lt. Wayne Lorch, overseeing the city's photo enforcement program, says the city tried to remove all the bugs before installing cameras." ..... "Phoenix won't change yellow-light timing at camera intersections, Lorch said, and will hand-deliver citations to violators who ignore mailed photos." ["Smile As You Run That Red Light: You May Be On Camera", Bob Petrie, The Arizona Republic, 7/20/2001]

With red light fatalities mounting, Phoenix traffic engineer ridicules engineering solutions, blames people driving: "Just this year, 23 people have been killed in such crashes in Phoenix, said Lt. Don McDonald of the Phoenix police vehicular crimes unit. Phoenix traffic engineer Mike Frisbie said suggestions for cutting down red-light violations have included extending the duration of the yellow light. But it's not the duration that makes the difference, Frisbie said. "There's no excuse at any time; there's plenty of time to stop with the yellow light," he said. "Either they're willfully running the red light or they're not paying attention." On average, yellow lights in the city last three to four seconds." ["Cameras aim to stop red-light runners", Desireé Hunter, The Arizona Republic, 7/23/2002]

"Phoenix traffic officials have said the city's signal timing allows drivers to safely stop on yellow." ["Phoenix beefs up arsenal vs. red-light runners", Bob Petrie, The Arizona Republic, 8/31/2001]

Meanwhile, from Alexandria, VA and elsewhere:

"At both Patrick/Gibbon and Seminary/Nottingham (charts 2 and 3) other factors significantly contributed to steep drops in our rate of red light running. In the case of Patrick and Gibbon the cause was a retiming of the lights immediately preceding this intersection which had a profound impact. Similarly, the retiming of the yellow phase at Seminary and Nottingham had a dramatic effect." [Mark Canoyer, Tech. Services Div. Chief, Alexandria Police Department, September, 2001, "Evaluation of Traffic Engineering Aspects of Photo Monitoring Programs in Virginia", Virginia Department of Transportation, 5/7/02, page 75](special note: the yellow was increased at Patrick/Gibbon as well as per Alexandria traffic signal operators)

"We will consider increasing yellow timing if other conditions warrant. Several jurisdictions have reported a sharp drop in red light running after yellow interval was increased. We are also installing LED signal heads at these 2 intersections to improve visibility." [Ramin Sabet, Senior Civil Engineer, Town of Herndon, VA, 9/26/01, "Evaluation of Traffic Engineering Aspects of Photo Monitoring Programs in Virginia", Virginia Department of Transportation, 5/7/02, page 87]

May 3, 2002 - Insurance companies admit to raising rates based on cameras tickets, even when no points are assessed: "Maria Jackson, a spokeswoman for the local corporate office for State Farm Insurance Co., said, "Any ticket received by automated traffic systems are treated the same as a traditional moving violation." But Dave Hurst, spokesman for State Farm's national corporate office, said the insurance company only looks at tickets when assessing new customers." ["Cameras Slow Down Motorists, Study Finds", Brian Debose, The Washington Times, 5/3/2002]

May 4, 2002 - Insurance companies reveal big plans for camera enforcement. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety confirms fully automated camera enforcement with unlimited capacity being devised: "Fully automated systems may be in the future. Digital cameras already exist that can recognize license plates, link to motor vehicle registration databases, and issue tickets. The speed enforcement system being tested in the Netherlands has this capability." ["Modernizing Traffic Law Enforcement Through Automation: US Lags Behind", IIHS Status Report, Vol 37, No. 5, May 4, 2002, page 5 http://www.carsafety.org/srpdfs/sr3705.pdf ]

May 5, 2002 - "[By email] I have answered the questionnaire and attached some charts of our violations-per-pass experience which illustrate the importance of "other" considerations on the rate at which red lights are violated. At both Patrick/Gibbon and Seminary/Nottingham (charts 2 and 3) other factors significantly contributed to steep drops in our rate of red light running. In the case of Patrick and Gibbon the cause was a retiming of the lights immediately preceding this intersection which had a profound impact. Similarly, the retiming of the yellow phase at Seminary and Nottingham had a dramatic effect." [Mark Canoyer, Tech. Services Div. Chief, Alexandria Police Department, September, 2001, "Evaluation of Traffic Engineering Aspects of Photo Monitoring Programs in Virginia", Virginia Department of Transportation, 5/7/02, page 75](special note: the yellow was increased at Patrick/Gibbon as well as per Alexandria traffic signal operators)

May 5, 2002 - Washington Post reports that Maryland legislature killed bill to study how red light cameras work: "The Maryland legislature killed a bill this year that called for a study of how the red-light camera program is working." ["After 542,000 tickets, D.C. traffic cameras still provoke questions", Arthur Santana, The Washington Post, 5/5/02]

May 5, 2002 - Washington Post reports Washington, DC police could not provide red light camera ticket data: "The records did not indicate how long it took to fix the cameras, what it cost or when they were put back in service. And there was no way to confirm that tickets were not issued from faulty cameras because police could not provide dates tickets were issued at the intersections -- to compare with repair dates." ["In Driver vs. Camera, Camera Usually Wins", Arthur Santana, The Washington Post, 5/5/02]

May 7, 2002 - Virginia Department of Transportation Issues "study" titled "Evaluation of Traffic Engineering Aspects of Photo Monitoring Programs in Virginia" on red light camera operations in Virginia. VDOT fails to evaluate yellow light increases or results from making them at signals in three jurisdictions (Alexandria/Vienna/Fairfax County), including at signals that VDOT operates. VDOT does not study the effect on violations from red light camera enforcement even though red light camera enforcement is many years into Virginia's red light camera trial period. No study either of the effects of Virginia red light camera enforcement on accidents. A few entries from the report, buried in the appendix, are as follows: "Similarly, the retiming of the yellow phase at Seminary and Nottingham had a dramatic effect." [Mark Canoyer, Tech. Services Div. Chief, Alexandria Police Department, September, 2001, page 75] A City of Fairfax official said "City council and mayor wanted photo red light." [Kevin Bowser, City of Fairfax Police Department, September, 2001, page 79] A Town of Herndon official said: "We will consider increasing yellow timing if other conditions warrant. Several jurisdictions have reported a sharp drop in red light running after yellow interval was increased. [Ramin Sabet, Senior Civil Engineer, Town of Herndon, 9/26/01, page 87] A City of Richmond police official said: "The Chief of Police added his opinion that the decision to implement the use of such equipment was political in nature and not within the authority of the Chief of Police." [Police Lt. Robert Gray, City of Richmond Police Department, September, 2001]

May 7, 2002 - "[By email] I have answered the questionnaire and attached some charts of our violations-per-pass experience which illustrate the importance of "other" considerations on the rate at which red lights are violated. At both Patrick/Gibbon and Seminary/Nottingham (charts 2 and 3) other factors significantly contributed to steep drops in our rate of red light running. In the case of Patrick and Gibbon the cause was a retiming of the lights immediately preceding this intersection which had a profound impact. Similarly, the retiming of the yellow phase at Seminary and Nottingham had a dramatic effect." [Mark Canoyer, Tech. Services Div. Chief, Alexandria Police Department, September, 2001, "Evaluation of Traffic Engineering Aspects of Photo Monitoring Programs in Virginia", Virginia Department of Transportation, 5/7/02, page 75](special note: the yellow was increased at Patrick/Gibbon as well as per Alexandria traffic signal operators)

May 8, 2002 - Australia cameras proliferate at high speed: "Speeding drivers who run red lights face double-whammy fines thanks to secret new cameras about to be introduced across Melbourne. The hi-tech digital devices, to be installed at 50 intersection blackspots over the next six months, are expected to raise $144 million. They are the first red-light cameras in Victoria that can also detect speeding drivers. Thousands of motorists may face a double dose of fines, costing them at least $325 and five demerit points." .... "The cameras have been secretly tested at several Melbourne sites over the past five months." .... "A fixed speed camera on the Monash Freeway caught more than 70,000 drivers and netted $10 million in fines in its first three months." .... "RACV spokesman Ken Ogden welcomed the new cameras. "Going through a red light is a very hazardous move and we would support anything to stop this," he said. "There is no need to speed up to get through an intersection, that is what a yellow light is for, it gives you sufficient time to brake." ["Double up - Red light for leadfoots", Milanda Rout and Kamahl Cogdon, MX, May 8, 2002]

May 8, 2002 - UK Road Toll rises despite thousands of speed cameras: "Yet, despite the claim that cameras cut the number of accidents, the toll of drivers killed and injured on the roads has risen by 4,000 since 1998. Motorists are now facing blanket camera coverage after 50 per cent of police forces joined a controversial scheme introduced earlier this year which allows them to use some of the cash from speeding fines to buy more cameras. The rest of forces are expected to join within 18 months, meaning the 4,300 speed cameras across the country could treble. This could increase the number of tickets issued each year to three million." ["50PC OF DRIVERS STOPPED BY POLICE", ZOE NAUMAN, DAILY MAIL (London), May 8, 2002]

May 9, 2002 - Safety claims of red light camera proponents found inconclusive: "Studies on crash impacts have mixed and inconclusive results," according to a report by Bellomo-McGee Inc., a Virginia transportation consulting company that analyzed Howard's accident reduction numbers for the State Highway Administration, along with statistics from red-light programs in Oxnard, Calif., and Mesa, Ariz. But, the report said, the "circumstantial" evidence indicated that red-light cameras generally had a "positive impact" on the reduction of car crashes and injuries. ["Red Light Cameras To Be Standardized", Annie Gowen, The Washington Post, 5/9/2002]

May 9, 2002 - Zero red grace camera settings in Prince George's County, MD revealed: "Now, operations vary, Tabacek [Eric Tabacek, division chief for the office of traffic and safety for the MD State Highway Administration] said. In some counties, for example, there is a grace period of a few tenths of a second after the light turns red and the camera flashes, catching the rear of the car and the license plate in its photo. Other counties, such as Prince George's, offer no such grace period." ["Red Light Cameras To Be Standardized", Annie Gowen, The Washington Post, 5/9/2002] (Note: A red grace camera setting of 0.40 seconds was used by the red light camera promoters in the early days to imply fairness in the enforcement. Red grace camera settings quickly erode once cameras are approved by legislatures and installations start.)

May 11, 2002 - In a Virginia Beach, VA newspaper, an associate editor, while noting a serious safety problem, at the same time ridicules prescribed engineering safety countermeasures, providing a rare glimpse into the thought process of people who want red light cameras: "Driving scofflaws could soon be pumping serious greenbacks into Virginia Beach's coffers. Serves 'em right." ......(The Beach could even come up with a slogan: "Break the law, build a theater." Hey, it takes a while to come up with $50 million.)" .... "Red-light running is a serious issue in this region. State statistics show that red-light violators cause an average of more than 900 crashes each year in South Hampton Roads. More than half result in injuries or death." ..... "Nor do I believe the argument that increasing the duration of the yellow light will solve most of the problems. Eventually, people would think, "Hey, it's yellow longer, so I can still make it through!" ["RED-LIGHT CAMERAS COULD HAVE THE BEACH SEEING GREEN", Roger Chesley, Associate Editor, The Virginian-Pilot rchesley@pilotonline.com , May 11, 2002]

"Research has consistently shown that drivers do not, in fact, adapt to the length of the yellow." ["Determining Vehicle Change Intervals - A Proposed Recommended Practice", Institute of Transportation Engineers, Washington, D.C., 1985, page 8]

May 12, 2002 - Ft Wayne, Indiana abandons plans to install and operate red light cameras without legislative approval. (see entry 3/2/02)

May 12, 2002 - Arizona red light camera advocates push for zero tolerance speed enforcement: "It sounds like a page torn from Barney Fife's law manual: getting a ticket for driving 1 mph over the speed limit." .... "The idea is among several key traffic safety recommendations touted by a governor's committee in hopes of improving the state's worst-in-the-nation ranking for red-light running fatalities. The tide shows no signs of turning. Preliminary figures from the Arizona Department of Transportation show red-light running deaths were up 51 percent in Phoenix in 2001, to 44, and up nearly 20 percent statewide, to 67." .... ""People know they can get away with it, so they do," said Frank Hinds, chairman of the Prevention of Red Light Running Committee. "The chances they're going to get caught are pretty slim." High speed is a major factor in red-light running, members say." .... "Hinds, co-chairman of Red Means Stop, a citizens group fighting red-light running, said getting new laws adopted won't be easy." ["Absolute road limits for speed considered", Bob Petrie, The Arizona Republic, 5/12/2002]

May 13, 2002 - Poltech announces new enforcement gadgets and looks to big revenues from cameras. Howard County MD and surrounding MD jurisdictions seen as lucrative market: "POLTECH Red Light systems in Medford are also operational and the installation of 10 red light systems in Howard County, Maryland, is nearing completion. Revenue streams are expected to commence in late June. There is scope to grow a further 90 systems from 15 jurisdictions surrounding Howard County - with an annual revenue potential around $7 million. "In Howard County, POLTECH is installing the first non-video, non-invasive red light system which is very attractive to customers because it is highly economical to install and maintain. The impact of this non-invasive technology will be significant as users from all parts of the world are looking for this solution." .... "Mr Walsh [POLTECH Managing Director, Mr Mike Walsh.] also said "There has also been a lot of media coverage in Victoria since the announcement of the State budget on red light/speed cameras. POLTECH is a current supplier of digital speed systems on major arterial roads into Melbourne and will be tendering for any new opportunities as they arise." ["PLL - Poltech Looks to Strong Revenues", AAP Company News, Financial News, May 13, 2002]

May 16, 2002 - "The Virginia Department of Transportation found when it increased the yellow time at one of the state's red light camera intersections [US50 and Fair Ridge Drive], red light running dropped to almost nothing. " ["Forced To Run The Red?", Elaine Murphy, KOIN News, Beaverton, Oregon, 5/16/2001]

May 17, 2002 - With little evidence the red light cameras are working, with evidence increasing that they don't work very well (if at all) and/or that rlc's cause accidents, with evidence showing that engineering solutions work better, and finding themselves inside the 'red light camera flytrap', Montgomery County MD council forges ahead: "Under public safety, 20 more red-light cameras were financed, bringing the county's total to 45. "This budget will improve public safety in the county, especially with the new red-light cameras," said Council member Phil Andrews, D-Gaithersburg. "Drivers and pedestrians shouldn't have to risk their lives when they enter the intersection when the light turns green."" ["Council OKs $2.9 billion budget", WHITNEY L. JACKSON, Journal Newspaper, 5/17/02] (I wonder if Montgomery County ever increased the yellow, even as a trial, so the camera could document the results of doing so? Not likely with the camera$ "working" so well.)

"Thus, an increase of 1.4 seconds or about 30 percent in yellow duration virtually eliminated all potential conflicts at the Maryland site." ["The Influence of the Time Duration of Yellow Traffic Signals on Driver Response", Stimpson/Zador/Tarnoff, ITE Journal, Institute of Transportation Engineers, November 1980, page 27]

"The Virginia Department of Transportation found when it increased the yellow time at one of the state's red light camera intersections [US50 and Fair Ridge Drive], red light running dropped to almost nothing." ["Forced To Run The Red?", Elaine Murphy, KOIN News, Beaverton, Oregon, 5/16/2001]

May 25, 2002 - New and highly sophisticated cameras revealed in Victoria Australia. Australian company setting up ops in Howard County, MD: "The point-to-point system has been developed by Poltech, the Melbourne maker of digital red light and speed cameras. Using GPS to accurately pinpoint movement and atomic clocks to record the time and date of all infringements, the system will have the capacity to automatically read number plates and issue tickets." .... "The point-to-point system and red light cameras that also pick up speeding drivers are the latest devices from the Victorian company that is making its mark internationally. Poltech digital traffic monitors designed and made in Melbourne operate in the US cities of Medford, Oregon and Cupertino, California, in Hawaii, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Spain and South Africa. "We have just completed and installed a full back office operation in Medford," said Mr Walsh [Poltech chief executive Mike Walsh]. "Not only does the system capture an image of the offending vehicle and generate a ticket. It also interfaces with various databases and checks for penalty points, outstanding warrants, fines, and whether the vehicle is wanted. This is the most advanced thing we have done. We are also putting some cameras into Howard County in Maryland." ["Big Brother hits the road", GEOFF EASEDOWN, Herald Sun, May 25, 2002]

May 26, 2002 - From Victoria, Australia: "SPEED cameras have had no impact on Victoria's soaring road toll, new figures reveal. The toll has climbed steadily despite a massive increase in speed camera operations that this year is predicted will provide $337 million in fines." .... "FATALITIES have increased from 378 in 1994-1995 to 444 in the last financial year and continue to rise." .... "Instead of seeing a cut in the road toll, the number of people killed on the roads has consistently risen. Figures based on the calendar year put the 2001 toll at 448, or 44 more than the previous year, and the highest in a decade." .... "Mr Leigh [Opposition transport spokesman Geoff Leigh] said speed cameras were often hidden, with police officers using them behind fences, light poles and road signs." ["We're still racing to a deadly toll; Cameras fail to stem bloody tide", Sue Hewitt, Sunday Herald Sun, May 26, 2002]

June 6, 2002 - Beaverton OR shuts down red light camera. Officials tight lipped about red light cameras: "The city turned off its red-light cameras on 158th Avenue at Walker Road after state lawmakers and lawyers said the city was breaking state law by using the technology at too many intersections." .... "Starr [Rep. Bruce Starr, R-Aloha] had requested Adlard [Linda Adlard, Beaverton chief of staff] or another city representative to defend the city's program at a House committee meeting later this month. Late Wednesday, he said there no longer was an issue about the number of cameras. He still planned to have city leaders testify on the progress of its program June 24 before the interim House committee in Salem. But Adlard said she doubts the city will attend the session because she and Drake [Mayor] will not be available." .... "Adlard, who clears all interviews with city employees, refuses to make the judges available for an interview. "I'm not going to give you permission," she said." ["BEAVERTON TURNS OFF CAMERA", RYAN FRANK - The Oregonian, June 6, 2002]

June 19, 2002 - Australian official says side impact crashes steadily rising despite red light camera enforcement (since 1983). Therefore, more cameras of even greater capacity and sophistication are secretly studied: "MORE than 5000 drivers have been caught in a secret trial of new red-light speed cameras at just two intersections." .... "The cameras, which will be moved between more than 50 intersection black spots, can issue two tickets simultaneously -- one for speeding and one for running a red light. Victoria is one of the first states to introduce the technology into its extensive network of hidden cameras. The secret VicRoads trial was conducted at two busy Melbourne intersections." .... "The decision to waive fines during the trials follows an outcry over a speed camera trial on the Monash Freeway that netted almost $10 million in three months. But the Government still expects to collect almost $337 million in fines this year -- 85 per cent more than last year." .... "Mr Batchelor [Transport Minister Peter Batchelor] said the Government investigated the cameras after research revealed side-impact crashes -- often the result of running red lights -- had risen steadily since 1988, but front-on accidents had dropped dramatically, he said." ["Secret hi-tech cameras nab 5000; Fines waived ... for now", GENEVIEVE LALLY, Herald Sun, June 19, 2002]

June 25, 2002 - Howard County MD goes digital: "A powerful new digital device is ready to fire tickets off to drivers who run a red light at one intersection in Howard County. This high-tech camera - the first of its kind in the state - is at Little Patuxent Parkway and Broken Land Parkway in Columbia." .... "Howard County police, considered a national leader in automated enforcement, have been eyeing digital technology since the county's first standard-film cameras were installed in 1998." .... "Howard police oversee the Regional Automated Enforcement Center, which Harford and more than a dozen other jurisdictions use to process red-light camera tickets." .... "Howard and Harford have contracts with APAC Technologies, a distributor for the Australian-made digital cameras, Black [Howard County Sgt. Tim Black of the Regional Automated Enforcement Center] said." .... "Digital cameras can transmit images of suspected red-light violators directly from the intersection to the center, where they can be analyzed immediately." .... "Digital cameras carve off between 60 percent and 65 percent of the labor tied to red-light cameras, Paczek [Paul L. Paczek, APAC operations manager for Howard County] said." ["Ticketing goes digital in Howard County; Technology: A Columbia intersection becomes the first in the state equipped with a new digital red-light camera", Julie Bykowicz, Baltimore Sun, June 25, 2002]

June 26, 2002 - Chapel Hill, NC to consider increasing yellow lights: "A Chapel Hill woman attempted Monday night to persuade the Town Council to reconsider its decision to allow traffic cameras to catch drivers who fail to stop for red lights. The only votes of support were from Mayor Kevin Foy, Mark Kleinschmidt and Bill Strom, the three council members who voted against the motion several weeks ago to give Town Manager Cal Horton the authority to negotiate a private contract to install the cameras. Despite the failed attempt to overturn the action, the council agreed to gather information about extending the cycle of yellow caution lights, a measure that red-light camera opponents tout as a better tool to control traffic." ["Red-light cameras to go forward", From Staff Reports, The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), June 26, 2002]

Regarding the Ann Beier accident (see entry 4/2/98), "what if" Ann Beier's movement into the intersection had been delayed say one second or so by a longer total change interval? Why did Ann Beier believe it was safe to proceed? Was here vision blocked, limiting her ability to see the oncoming vehicle from here left? Would a longer change period to delay her green onset been appropriate to compensate? "What if" the light had twelve inch signal indications, as required by recommended practice? Why did the lights have eight inch lenses four years after the accident? The answer of course is that once the blame was placed on the driver, and blame might surely have been deserved, people likley folded the tent and went home with mission accomplished. But was it? Most accidents have more than one cause and most are the result of a series of events, each of which has their own causes. Sometimes those causes are entirely unrelated to the people directly involved in the accident.

Regarding Alexandria and the Walsh accident (see April 15, 1999 entry), "what if" Alexandria had publicly announced the yellow increase at Seminary/Nottingham in September 98 along with the results of making it, a greater than 75% drop in violations? Would someone familiar with the GWMP/Slaters intersection, where Walsh was killed, possibly have thought that a similar increase there (a place with similar and perhaps even worse problems) would have been appropriate? Would enough people have realized sooner that the yellow at Patrick/Gibbon should been increased too? "What if" the yellow light at GWMP and Slaters had been four seconds, instead of three? Would Mr. Walsh's forward movement have been delayed one more second, while during the same time, Mr. Enguillado (driver) was negotiating the intersection safely under a yellow light? Why was the light still three seconds at GWMP/Slaters more than a year after the Walsh accident and an even longer time after the yellow increase at Seminary/Nottingham as well as at Patrick/Gibbon, where "red light running" was reduced so impressively by simply changing the lights? How could the three second yellow light at GWMP/Slaters meet national standards when there were 40 violations per hour at GWMP/Slaters being documented? Why didn't the Washington Post and other newspapers report (not just back then but even to this day) on the problems with the lights at the camera sites in Alexandria, that the yellow lights were increased because the camera enforcement wasn't working and the reductions in violations from increasing the yellow lights?

In National City, CA, where little Louie Roman was killed (see October 2000 entry), why are people stopping but doing so in the crosswalk? Why do so many violate the red signal there? Why do these problems exist a year after the accident? "What if" the yellow light were lengthened slightly there? Would some of the problems be less? Has anyone checked out this possibility? Its easy to do you know.

Have we reached the point where jurisdictions don't make requisite corrections because it has become more fashionable and convenient to simply let dangerous conditions (and hostility) continue, blame hapless and unwitting people driving for everything that happens, and install red light camera$? When Deputy Police Chief David Baker of Alexandria advised in a news article (1/25/01) that red light cameras should not be used "irresponsibly" and "like a hammer", as was being done in Alexandria for so long in the early days with inadequate yellow lights, he was right. Why? Because improperly timed and inadequate yellow lights can kill and injure people and everyone should remember that, especially the people who want red light cameras.

Finally, why don't jurisdictions and people who promote red light cameras, when they increase the yellow lights, announce both the yellow increases and the reductions in violations from making them? One would think everyone would be proud to announce the good news. The answer is: It would lead to the next logical question of who really was responsible for the problems in the first place. Better to keep the public in the dark and ignorant too and not bother them with such pesky little details, especially with it being so easy and convenient to keep piling on hapless and unsuspecting people driving.

June 28, 2002 - Spokane, WA: "At red lights, smile"

''Red light, green light" - any first-grader knows how to play that game. Red means stop, green means go.

That's how traffic lights are designed to work, too. Unfortunately, many Spokane drivers interpret a red light to mean ''floor it." Every regular commuter knows of an intersection where green always means ''don't go" - until all the red-light runners speed through. Only then can you proceed, with caution. For anyone foolish enough to immediately go on green rather than wait, the consequences can be fatal.

July 2, 2002 - Sacramento, CA: "Red-light cameras back in business Sacramento County ticketing resumes; the city's not yet ready."

Sacramento County's red-light camera program is running again after a 2 1/2 -month hiatus used to ensure the technology is not cheating motorists.

Though cameras in the Sacramento region have continued to record red-light running violations, thousands of tickets have expired and hundreds more were tossed out of court since officials noticed a typographical error in the equipment's operating manual April 18.

That glitch prompted the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office to dismiss pending cases until all camera issues were resolved. On Monday, district attorney officials said their concerns with the county's cameras have been remedied and that they would resume prosecuting tickets dating from June 20.

July 10, 2002 - Washington, DC: Washington Times Editorial "Candid red-light camera facts"

The use of photo-radar and red-light cameras has been pushed on the public as a means of making the roads less dangerous. But what if we're still not any safer as a result of increasingly omnipresent police surveillance – just a lot less free?

What little evidence there is to make a case for photo radar and the erection of all-seeing cameras all over the landscape comes largely from the two parties that stand to benefit most from these things: the government and the insurance industry. Their revenues go up while our freedoms go down, and we don't even get an improvement in road safety in the bargain.

In countries where cameras and video surveillance of all kinds have been in use much longer than in the United States, there is abundant evidence to support this contention.

For example:

• In Ireland, "Operation Lifesaver" – a program designed around camera enforcement and monitoring – had "no measurable effect on fatalities," according to the June 27 edition of The Irish Times.
• In Canada, the use of red-light cameras in several cities, including Toronto, Hamilton and Ottowa, resulted in "absolutely no improvement" in safety, according to Transportation Minister Norm Sterling.
• In England, which has one of the most extensive grids of camera surveillance in the Western world, "More children are dying on Lancashire roads despite claims that speed cameras are making them safer," said the Lancashire Evening Post on June 26. "The number of youngsters killed on the highways has risen by 60 percent in the last year . . . the overall number of accidents involving death or serious injury has also increased by 16 percent."

In Washington and along the George Washington Parkway, photo-radar installations have not been up long enough to allow for adequate data collection. However, it is known that where red-light running is a problem, a small increase in the time a yellow light remains yellow before it turns red will markedly reduce dangerous road conditions and thereby obviate the need for cameras entirely.

The bottom line, of course, is that police states and their watered-down surveillance society kin are much less safe for ordinary people than the worst intersection or highway in a free society.

July 14, 2002 - Subject: Accounting scandal meets the red light camera scam,

(1) Redflex, a key red light camera manufacturer used by several US cities, has been caught cooking the books. A review by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission found that the company overstated profits by 61%, concluding, "Companies should not make undisclosed changes to significant accounting treatments for the purpose of meeting profit forecasts." — The Australian, 7/11/02

(2) In a similar fit of hypocrisy, three witnesses observed an Australian speed camera van *speeding* just before the van's driver pulled over to set up a speed camera trap! — The Canberra Times, 7/10/02

(3) Of course, the biggest lie of all is claiming cameras are for safety. After 2 years of speed camera use, 41 more people have died in accidents in Sydney, Australia (a 14% increase) so far this year. — The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 7/10/02

July 18, 2002 - Calvert Sheriff Kills Proposal to Install Red-Light Cameras Residents’ Opposition Sways Bartlett

By Raymond McCaffrey, Washington Post Staff Writer

Calvert County Sheriff John A. “Rodney” Bartlett Jr. withdrew his proposal to use cameras to catch drivers who run red lights as the plan was being considered at a public hearing Tuesday night.

Citing concerns about the project by many in the community, Bartlett (D) announced he was withdrawing the plan during a public hearing attended by more than 70 people. The Calvert County Board of Commissioners quickly moved to officially -- and unanimously -- vote down the proposal, which had sought $165,550 for the red-light camera project during the next fiscal year.

“That ends this issue,” Commissioners President David F. Hale (R-Owings) said.

July 24, 2002 - CA Camera Report: Privacy Problems, Short Yellow, Revenue Motive

By Richard Diamond,
Office of the Majority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
202-225-6007 / www.freedom.gov

A new report by the California State Auditor proves several important points:(1) Most red light camera violations happen within the first second of yellow; (2) Serious privacy problems exist; (3) Revenue is officially one of LA's camera motives. The report can be found here:

http://www.bsa.ca.gov/bsa/pdfs/2001125.pdf

[ 1 ] Cities banking on inadequate yellow time

According to the report, "a significant percentage of the issued citations are for red light violations that occur within one second of the light turning red." (p. 43). What this means is that if the yellow light is extended a mere second, the majority of the red light running problem goes away, as we have found happen in several communities including San Diego, and Fairfax, VA. Here's the data:

Percentage of Citations Occurring Within One Second of the Red Light: Fremont* 88%, Long Beach 84, Los Angeles 86, Oxnard 73, Sacramento 82, San Diego 57, San Francisco 72
Source:Vendor data since the inception of each program. However, San Francisco is 2001 data only.
*Fremont data are for violations captured by red light cameras rather than citations issued.

[ 2 ] Privacy Problem

"Our review found at least two instances where vendors misused photographs taken by red light cameras. In one instance, a photograph that showed a bicyclist being struck by a vehicle in San Francisco was posted in the hallway of the San Diego Police Department." Page 21

[ 3 ] Los Angeles Admits Money is their Motive

Page 26 has a chart that indicates "Increased revenue" is a criterion for intersection selection for Los Angeles. Please note that even this chart is as pro-camera a statement of the facts in California as you can get. We would be happy to provide the *real* criteria San Diego used to choose intersections, from memos released at trial (hint: short yellow, downhill approach and high volume are the key criteria).

Finally, let's address some problems in the report. Although the report does a good job of hiding the extreme profit generated by the $270 red light camera ticket (highest in the nation), the fact is that the following entities are huge amounts of money:

The State of California
Insurance Companies (California assesses points to licenses)
Camera vendors like ACS, Nestor, etc.

Just because a few cities haven't gotten the money-making formula down quite right yet, that shouldn't distract from the millions generated by the cameras. Also, the accident statistics are quite selective, leaving out the massive increase in rear end collisions caused by the cameras. The report makes it look like San Diego had an accident decrease. That's inaccurate -- look at the facts:

August 7, 2002 - Sad but true observation, NMA member (engineer)

'Couldn't help but laugh. The CA auditor said in the summary that most jurisdictions reported following the rules for yellow light times. What a joke. That's what VDOT said when I first inquired of Ling Li of VDOT in January 2000 (before any cameras were installed at Fairfax County intersections). That is also what Alexandria claimed, what City of Fairfax still claims, what Arlington claims, and I surmise what Falls Church claims, even though the light at Broad and Annandale has (or at least had....have not checked it in several months) three seconds (and a camera) while other lights on the same road under the same design conditions have four seconds of yellow. San Diego surely claimed the same, no matter what the yellow was or is.

You see, no matter how much yellow is on a light and no matter how unacceptable the red signal violations, the yellow is always in conformity with whatever standard one chooses to use (in the opinion solely of the jurisdiction). Remember, the red light camera crowd has written new rules for light timings...just in time for using red light cameras. The result is a need for red light camera enforcement. No surprise there. Phoenix is a prime example. In the face of a red light running crisis there, the fruitcake engineer claims the lights are adequate, in conformity and therefore won't be lengthened, even as people are being killed.

Funny isn't it how the CA legislature, under the pretense of ensuring no shenanigans with yellow lights, codified the red light camera yellow light codes that the rlc wanted for such a long time. They effectively codified a technical standard that the committee at ITE never adopted.....because a consensus view on the short yellow codes could not be reached by the ITE committee! CALTRANS, who by the way gave San Francisco numerous red light cameras for free (e.g. promoting red light cameras), did a great job with their red light camera light timing codes. The foxes are guarding the henhouse.

They referenced Retting's work too. Retting and IIHS have been on a dual track (and deceptive) pr effort for years. While at the same time Retting plays fast and loose with the yellow times in "studies", they have been simultaneously pursuing token publications indicating that yellow lights should be timed properly, indirectly implying they actually were at IIHS study sites (which they weren't).

Can you name one jurisdiction (with rlc's or that wants them) that has increased the yellow lights and voluntarily documented and made public the results of doing so when the increases happened? Or even after? No. Don't expect that to change.

BE YOUR OWN JUDGE.