Traffic Cameras In Los Alamitos: Certified When?

Traffic cameras in Los Alamitos, California, were first implemented in 2005. The city installed three red light cameras at two intersections: Bloomfield and Katella Avenue, and Los Alamitos Boulevard and Katella Avenue. The cameras were introduced to improve safety at these intersections, which had seen several crashes and complaints about their danger.

The use of automated red light enforcement systems is authorised by the California Vehicle Code section 21455.5. The cameras have been challenged in court, but both the California Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court have ruled that they do not violate the hearsay rule.

The effectiveness of traffic cameras in Los Alamitos

The use of traffic cameras in Los Alamitos, California, has been a topic of debate among residents, with some questioning their effectiveness and impact on driver safety. The city first implemented red-light photo enforcement in 2005, citing a high number of traffic collisions and safety concerns at intersections. Since then, there have been mixed reactions to the system, with some praising its life-saving potential and others criticising it as a revenue-generating trap. This article will explore the key arguments and provide an overview of the impact of traffic cameras in Los Alamitos.

Effectiveness in Reducing Accidents and Improving Safety

Proponents of the traffic cameras in Los Alamitos highlight the significant reduction in accidents at monitored intersections. Police Capt. Bruce McAlpine has stated that "red-light cameras save lives", and data seems to support this claim. According to reports, traffic collisions at red-light camera-controlled intersections have decreased by 38% since the program's inception, even as the traffic volume has doubled. This aligns with studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which found a 24% reduction in traffic fatalities at intersections with red-light cameras over a five-year period.

Russ Rader, vice president of communications for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, emphasised the life-saving potential of such programs, stating that "the bottom line is Orange County will save lives". This view is shared by Shelley Hasselbrink, a councilwoman in Los Alamitos, who particularly emphasised the importance of traffic cameras near areas frequented by student drivers, such as schools and parks.

However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of red-light cameras has been disputed. Some residents of Los Alamitos have criticised the system, claiming that the lights turn red too quickly, trapping drivers and resulting in hefty fines. There have also been instances where technical errors, such as miscalibrated yellow light timings, have led to incorrect ticketing. In one case, a traffic light at Katella Avenue and Bloomfield Street was found to switch from yellow to red faster than state law allows, resulting in hundreds of potentially invalid tickets.

Impact on Driver Behaviour and Revenue Generation

The presence of traffic cameras in Los Alamitos has had a noticeable impact on driver behaviour. The number of citations issued has decreased over time, suggesting that motorists are becoming more cautious and compliant with traffic laws. Capt. McAlpine acknowledged this positive trend, stating that the program would continue as long as it continued to change driver behaviour and reduce accidents.

While the primary goal of the traffic cameras is to improve safety, the revenue generated from fines cannot be ignored. The cost of running the red-light camera system in Los Alamitos is significant, amounting to approximately $215,000 annually. The city collects enough in fines to cover these costs and even contribute to some "core" police services. However, the high cost of fines, which can exceed $500, has been a point of contention for many drivers. Some view the cameras as a money-making scheme rather than a safety measure, giving rise to the perception of the system as a "trap".

The legality of traffic cameras in Los Alamitos

The use of red-light traffic cameras in Los Alamitos, California, is legal and has been approved by the state's Supreme Court. The city implemented the system in 2005 in response to traffic collisions and safety complaints about the intersections of Los Alamitos Boulevard and Katella Avenue, and Katella Avenue and Bloomfield Street.

Legal basis

The California Vehicle Code section 21455.5 authorises the use of automated red-light enforcement systems in jurisdictions across the state. The legality of these systems was challenged in the West Judicial District in 2010 due to alleged hearsay violations, but both the California Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court ruled that they do not violate the hearsay rule.

Implementation in Los Alamitos

The City of Los Alamitos implemented its red-light camera system in 2005, installing three cameras at two intersections. Two cameras were placed at the intersection of Katella Avenue and Los Alamitos Street to monitor left turns, and one camera was installed at the intersection of Katella Avenue and Bloomfield Street to monitor right turns. The system was implemented due to safety concerns, with the aim of improving the safety of both motorists and law enforcement officers who had to pursue violators through red lights.

Effectiveness and controversy

Since the implementation of the red-light camera system, traffic collisions at the monitored intersections in Los Alamitos have decreased by 38%, while the traffic count has doubled. Despite this, the use of traffic cameras in the city has been controversial. Some residents claim that the lights change to red too quickly, resulting in unfair tickets, and that the high cost of these tickets, which can exceed $500, is excessive and abusive. There have been instances where tickets have been challenged and dismissed in court due to incorrect timing of the yellow lights. However, city officials maintain that the cameras are effective in reducing accidents and improving safety, and there are currently no plans to discontinue the program.

The cost of running the traffic camera system in Los Alamitos

In September 2010, a new contract was negotiated, reducing the cost to $4,500 per approach, per month, or $13,500 per month overall. This amounts to $162,000 annually. The city of Los Alamitos pays around $215,000 per year to run the system, which includes the cost of employing officers to manage it.

The cost of implementing automated red light camera systems varies depending on the specifics of the intersection, such as the geometry and the number of lanes or approaches monitored. The cost typically ranges from $67,000 to $80,000 per intersection. This includes fixed costs like equipment and installation, and variable costs associated with the back-office ticket processes.

The benefits of the system in Los Alamitos are said to outweigh the costs, with a reported 38% decrease in crashes at the intersections with cameras, improving road safety and saving lives.

The process of challenging a ticket from a traffic camera in Los Alamitos

Red-light traffic cameras were implemented in Los Alamitos in 2005, and the city has no plans to discontinue their use. If you receive a ticket from a traffic camera in Los Alamitos, there are several strategies you can use to challenge it. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Understand the Violation and Research Relevant Laws

Firstly, you should understand the name of the violation you have been accused of, such as "running a red light", along with the relevant traffic law code section. This information will be included on your citation. Use this information to conduct online research and understand the specific traffic law you allegedly violated. This will help you select the most effective defence strategy.

Step 2: Choose a Defence Strategy

There are several defence strategies you can use to challenge a traffic ticket. These include:

• Disputing the police officer's personal opinion or subjective conclusion: For example, if you were cited for an unsafe lane change, you can argue that your lane change was safe given the weather and traffic conditions.
• Disputing the officer's observations or presentation of evidence: For this, you will need to question whether the officer was in a position to accurately observe the alleged violation. You can use diagrams and photographs to support your argument.
• Presenting evidence of a "mistake of fact": This involves demonstrating that your violation was due to circumstances beyond your control or an honest and reasonable mistake. For instance, if a lane marker was worn down, causing you to drive in two lanes.
• Arguing that your actions were justified to prevent harm: In this strategy, you admit to the violation but provide evidence that it was necessary to avoid causing harm to yourself or others. For example, if you were speeding to pass a possibly drunken driver.

Step 3: Gather Evidence

Depending on the defence strategy you choose, you may need to gather different types of evidence. This could include eyewitness statements, diagrams of the scene, or photographs that show your claim clearly. For example, a photo of an obscured traffic sign or a broken tree branch blocking a stop sign.

Step 4: Review the Evidence and Violation

Motorists in Los Alamitos can head to the police station at any time to review tapes with a red-light camera officer and discuss any questions or concerns. You can also view your violation in both video and still pictures online at www.photonotice.com.

Step 5: Plead Your Case

If you believe you have been wrongfully issued a ticket and have sufficient evidence to support your claim, you can choose to plead "not guilty". This will involve attending a justice court, where a judge or jury will assess your case and determine whether to dismiss the citation.

The impact of traffic cameras on accident rates in Los Alamitos

The impact of traffic cameras on accident rates is a complex issue that has been the subject of much study and debate. While some argue that traffic cameras can reduce accidents by encouraging drivers to obey traffic laws, others claim that they may have the opposite effect, leading to more sudden stops and rear-end collisions.

In the case of Los Alamitos, the city implemented a red-light photo enforcement system in 2005 to improve road safety at the intersection of Los Alamitos Boulevard and Katella Avenue, which had seen a number of traffic collisions. The system was also intended to enhance the safety of law enforcement officers, who would no longer need to pursue violators through red lights.

Since the program's inception, traffic collisions in red-light camera-controlled intersections in Los Alamitos have decreased by 38%, while the traffic count has doubled. This success has been attributed to the deterrent effect of red-light cameras, which target specific traffic violations that make intersections unsafe.

However, it is important to note that the impact of red-light cameras on accident rates may vary depending on the specific location and context. For example, in a study examining the impact of red-light cameras in three large Texas cities over a 12-year period, no evidence was found that red-light cameras improved public safety or reduced the total number of vehicle accidents. On the other hand, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that traffic fatalities at intersections patrolled by red-light cameras fell by 24% over a five-year period in 14 of the largest US cities.

While the data from Los Alamitos suggests that red-light cameras have had a positive impact on reducing accidents, it is worth considering the potential for contradictory effects, as mentioned earlier. Some drivers who would have otherwise proceeded through an intersection when the light turned yellow or red may now attempt to stop abruptly, potentially leading to an increase in rear-end collisions.

In conclusion, the impact of traffic cameras on accident rates in Los Alamitos has been largely positive, with a significant reduction in collisions at camera-controlled intersections. However, it is important to acknowledge the potential for mixed effects, as well as the need for careful consideration of specific locations and contexts when implementing such systems.

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