Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Automated Enforcement Saves Lives - AB 666 (Red Light Camera Reform)




Red Light Camera Reform – AB 666
Why it’s essential for safer streets
 
California law is clear and the data indisputable: red means stop and red light cameras save lives.  A 2011 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found red light cameras led to:
 
·         62% reduction in fatal red light running crashes in San Diego
·         53% reduction in fatal red light running crashes in Sacramento
·         44% reduction in fatal red light running crashes in Santa Ana
·         34% reduction in fatal red light running crashes in Long Beach
 


Last year, the General Assembly took the first steps toward reforming the red light camera program. Now, we need take these efforts further to ensure we have a program that builds on this success and ensures those who break the law and run red lights are held accountable.
 
Legislation introduced in 2013 keeps the state’s traffic safety camera programs focused on safety, establishes a reasonable fine structure and reduces the burden on the state’s court system to ensure scofflaws do not get away with breaking the law and those who wish to contest a red light ticket can easily do so. The result will be the preservation of a critical life-saving law enforcement tool and safer roads for all California road users.
 
Problem
Excessive fines have made California’s red light camera penalty the highest in the country. The fine for running a red light in California is $140. But too many additional fees have been added over the years which have very little to do with the administration of a traffic ticket, which has left motorists with inflated fines close to $500.
 
Proposed Solution – AB 666
To lower fees and restore confidence in the red light camera program’s public safety goals, citations should be administered at the municipal level to reduce court-related fees, decreasing out-of-pocket fines to 50% to 60% of the current amount, while ensuring a substantial fee is in place to deter dangerous red light running.


Problem
Overburdened courts California processes all moving violations as criminal violations. This means all citations must be processed by the courts. 
 
Proposed Solution – AB 666 
To operate an efficient, effective red light camera program that deters dangerous driving and improves road safety, many states impose an administrative penalty - not a criminal violation. Through this process, appeals are processed administratively, freeing the court for other obligations

Problem
Drivers often evade citation. California law only allows identified drivers to be cited. Because of this, many car owners and drivers have found ways to make identification difficult or impossible and avoid citation.
  
 Proposed Solution – AB 666
To ensure scofflaws are held responsible for dangerous driving, the vehicle owner must take responsibility for the citation and pay the civil fine, but no points would be imposed against the vehicle owner if he or she is not the driver. Points will only be imposed on the vehicle owner when he or she is identified by the camera as the driver. Californians can be assured red light cameras are acting as an effective public safety tool.




 

Traffic Safety Coalition

www.TrafficSafetyCoalition.com || info@trafficsafetycoalition.com

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