Study: Traffic Cameras Operate To Make Money

Yellow Lights At Intersections With Cameras Too Short

A new study on San Diego's red light traffic cameras is coming down hard against Lockheed Martin. "The preliminary results of the study indicate that the red light camera program in San Diego is operated primarily for revenue-generation purposes, rather than for public safety," according to the report. The Red Light Camera Defense Team, made up of lawyers who represent people who received the tickets, said it based its review on more than 5,000 court documents and other public records. A representative of Lockheed Martin IMS, the company that operates the city's program, said that the study was meant to turn attention away from the real issue. "No matter how many red herrings the trial lawyers throw out in an attempt to rationalize their position, the facts speak for themselves -- these programs save lives," stated Lockheed Martin IMS Senior Vice President Bob Landolt. The program has been in place since 1999 and achieved a reduction in red-light running of more than 45 percent, Landolt said. Among the Red Light Camera Defense Team's findings was that the intersections selected for red light cameras all appear to have high traffic volumes, which the report said "would likely create substantial revenue for the operating company that receives $70 from each $271 fine paid." Landolt said that the high volume criteria is valid. "The fact is with heavier traffic, there is more red light running and a higher likelihood of accidents," Landolt said. "Why would you locate a photo safety camera where there is no volume of red light runners?" Red Light Camera

The report also said that intersections were selected because of "extremely short yellow light cycle durations," which "create a trap" because some people won't be able to stop safely in time or get through the intersection "without technically running a red light." Earlier this month, the city shut down all of its cameras, which capture images of red-light runners. The shutdown is pending the results of an independent audit. Below is a list of red light camera locations throughout the county, courtesy of PowayOnline.net: City Of San Diego Camera Locations College Area