Group Seeks to Put an End to Red Light Cameras in Murrieta
Members of Limited Government Political Action Committee have said if the City doesn't agree to remove the lights, they would seek to put a measure on the June ballot asking voters to outlaw the cameras.
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A group of citizens is asking the City of Murrieta to remove all red light cameras operating at City intersections.
Members of Limited Government Political Action Committee have said if the City doesn't agree to remove the lights, they would seek to put a measure on the June ballot asking voters to outlaw the cameras.
"It is not a safety issue, it is a money-making issue," said Diana Serafin, the lead petitioner.
The tickets can range in cost from $450 to $500, if the cameras capture a driver violating the law by running a red light or making an illegal right-hand turn on a red. The photos are then reviewed by Murrieta police officers before being issued, according to a staff report.
"This is outrageous for the citizens of Murrieta and Temecula in this bad economy," Serafin said.
The four red light cameras were installed in the City beginning in 2006 at three intersections. Two are at Whitewood and Murrieta Hot Springs, one is at Nutmeg and California Oaks, and one is at Murrieta Hot Springs and Margarita, according to Murrieta Police Department Traffic Sgt. Jon Flavin.
The lights were installed in those locations based on the number of collisions at that time, according to Flavin.
The City signed a five-year contract with Nestor Traffic Systems in 2005 to install and monitor the cameras, in an effort to reduce the amount of illegal red light infractions.
American Traffic Systems of Arizona subsequently purchased Nestor in 2009. Typically, such companies benefit from the ticket revenue, as do the municipal government and courts.
A California Supreme Court ruling in November validated the legality of the payment structure in contracts between municipalities and private contractors to provide equipment and support services for the automated enforcement systems, according to a news release.
Reached by phone Tuesday, Murrieta Police Cpl. Jay Froboese said the department is reviewing a new contract as the old one is set to expire. The department is also looking at installing more cameras.
Froboese said there were 2,109 red light camera tickets issued between Jan. 1, 2010 and Nov. 30, 2010. That number was down about 500 or 600 since the cameras were first installed, he said.
As far as the safety aspect goes, Froboese said the department was aware the cameras could increase rear-end accidents.
"With red light cameras people become hyper-aware, and you can have an increase of rear-end accidents. These are usually non-injury," Froboese said.
He said the increased rear-enders were a trade-off to reduce the more injurious or deadly type--side impacts, usually at a 90 degree angle.
"Those are the ones we want to avoid," Froboese said.
Mayor Randon Lane said the City receives a very small percentage of revenue from the tickets. He said he has asked for an update as to the effectiveness of the cameras, which could be given at the next City Council meeting, scheduled for Jan. 18.
Serafin presented a sample ballot measure to the Council at a December meeting. The document was verbatim of an Anaheim measure passed by voters in November, backed by the Anaheim mayor and two council members.
While there were no cameras in Anaheim--or plans to install them--the Anaheim council members stated in the measure that they wanted to insure the City would never benefit from this type of public revenue.
Red light cameras were deactivated in the City of Loma Linda in December, after the City completed a five-year contract and a study into their effectiveness.
Editors's Note: This article has been updated to include a response from Murrieta Police Cpl. Jay Froboese, who was out of the office at the time of original posting.
Susan Marsh
7:39 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Cameras improving/ensuring public safety? My personal experience is very different.
I was traveling east on Murrieta Hot Springs about 5pm, peak traffic time. As I approached Whitewood the signal changed to yellow. The car in front of me slammed on her brakes, I then slammed on my brakes. How I managed to stop short of hitting her car is a miracle. Unfortunately the young man in the car behind me saw the yellow light and excelerated. He some how missed the fact that I was braking. He never hit the brakes and slammed in to my car as he was gaining speed. This slammed me into the car I had managed to avoid. Causing extensive damage to both ends of my car.
The woman in the first car had already received a red light ticket at that intersection and freaked out when she saw the light turn yellow. Because of traffic we were driving less than 45mph at the time of the accident. The fact that she slammed on the brakes and didn't come to a stop until she was through the intersection tells you she could have easily made the light, as could I (not sure about the guy behind me).
Of course the young man who hit me had minimum insurance which did not cover the damage to both cars. I think the first lady was at fault that is not how the laws work. My insurance adjuster told me she takes care of multiple accidents at that intersection each week.
Where is the improved safety.
Tsehai Abate
9:34 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
It was Sunday morning I was going to church. I was coming from Murrieta
Hot Spring and made a right turn on White Wood. I stopped on the red light
and made righ turn. There is no sign not to make a right turn when coming from MHS. I stopped behind the stop sign line and made a right turn .The camera flashed and I got a ticket of $465.00 not crossing the red light but because I made a right turn. I wrote a letter to the court,paid $465.00. I am waiting to get my money back. If I was coming from White Wood I couldn't make a right turn because there is a sign not to make Right on Red ligt. My point is I shouldn't get a ticket when turn right on red unless there is a sign not to make Right turn.
Susan Marsh
9:46 am on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tsehai, you are not alone. Same thing happened to my son. You should contact the people organizing the petition to have cameras removed.
WALTER VAN IDERSTINE
1:23 pm on Wednesday, January 5, 2011
I also recived a $450.00 ticket at the light on Nutmeg and Clinton keith. I thought it was green when I went through ,but it flashed me . So as you know ,you cant fight city hall . I paid it!.Just the other day I was sitting at a red light ,same place, I watched a man drive through the light by the time he got trough it it had turned red and flashed him. If I could of read his plate number , I would called him to be a witness . .These kind of traps are not fare. Should not be leagel . then the other day on television ,they were talking about taking them all down .people owe thousands and do not have to pay cause its not legal . Then why did they take my money $450. and give me a point on my lisence. when thousands dont have to pay or get points .
Diana Serafin
4:36 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
30 Cities in California voted to remove Red Light Cameras. Passed by super majorities in every case. Come the the Murrieta City Council Meeting on Jan 18th and speak up against the cameras.
Roy T Tatar
2:44 pm on Thursday, February 3, 2011
Safety is a myth espoused by politicians & cops. If the cameras are only about safety the fines would not be so ridiculously high. The fines are extortion to pay for the cameras, cops & politicians. Eliminate the cameras & the fines, can be reduced; if the politicians do not need the money to balance their mismanaged budgets. Please have an initiative on the June ballot to eliminate the hated red light cameras.
Rob
10:09 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
Please let me know how I can help. I am certain the area I live in will gain signatures (Bella Corte and Monserate). The red light camera at Clinton Keith and Nutmeg is a disaster. We locals know enough to slow down and ALWAY"S check our rear view mirror to avoid getting into that rear ended wreck!
IF it is REALLY about public safety, here is a solution for ALL red lights.
1) Do as Loma Linda did and EXTEND the yellow light. Red light violations went down by 92%!!!!!!!
http://search.aol.com/aol/search?query=loma+linda+extends+yellow+light&s_it=keyword_rollover
2) I have a home outside the US and they have the green light BLINK for 5 seconds before the light goes yellow. This tells people PREPARE TO STOP.
IS this about safety or just more city officials drnk with power or .... WORSE? Follow the MONEY! Audit, audit, audit!
Diana Serafin
3:41 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
If anyone wants to help me with the petition, please email me at noredcamsmurrieta@verizon.net. The petition should be ready in a week.