Details on Red Light Intersection Cameras

According to a CBS news report, Lockheed Martin has developed the cameras and is installing them and maintaining them free of charge at intersections to catch those running red lights.  In addition, they process the film and issue the traffic citations in exchange for a $60 share of the revenue.

In 1996, the California Legislature raised the fine for running a red light from $104 to $271.  They claim it is to promote safety.  The Bear Trap Guide believes they are doing it to increase revenue and give Lockheed Martin a monetary return on the cameras.

Lockheed Martin forecasts they will issue 370 citations per month at each intersection.  At $271 per citation, that is $1,203,240 income for every intersection every year.

That is what a Democratic Legislature does for you under the guise of promoting driver safety.

How to defeat the cameras

There are several ways to defeat the intersection cameras.

• The cameras photograph your car including the driver and the license plate.  If you realize you are about to run a light at an intersection, it seems that if you hold your hand in front of your face, the camera can't make a positive identification of the driver.  Possibly hold up a Jay Leno mask for the camera.  You usually have a second or two after you realize you can't stop in time.  Possibly you could lower your sun visor if you are tall enough to hide behind it.  Perhaps you could go to court dressed as a transvestite and ask for them to identify you as the driver :-)

• When you are cited for any violation of the law, you have the right to meet and cross examine your accuser in court.  How do you think a camera will respond to your questions?  It is suspected the Government will eventually change the law to enforce their citations, but that will probably face a strong challenge in upper courts as unconstitutional.  There are records of some states automatically discarding the citation if the registered owner of the vehicle claims not to be the driver.  Also, it still needs to be recognized that the clerks mailing the citations are not police officers and what are their rights in court?  They did not witness the incident.

• Always go to court and request a trial with the citing officer present.  The AAA Auto Club claims that 30% of the officers never show up and your citation will be thrown out.  Our observations indicate it is closer to 50%.  The Bear Trap Guide suspects that a very high number (98%) of these photo traffic citations will be thrown out if you request a trial with the officer present.

The Los Angeles Times reports (March 25, 2001) that many of the citations are never issued because of faulty or questionable identification.  Sun glasses, reflections off a clean windshield, or a gender difference between driver and registered owner are some of the many reasons the cameras can't identify the driver.  Only about 50% of the photos are used to issue citations because of recognition problems.

They also report that in one Orange County intersection, traffic accidents are down 52% since the cameras were installed. There are signs indicating the presence of the cameras.

If you are interested in learning more about how the system works, read the book
Bear Traps On The Interstate

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