
By Sara Beth Williams and Phillip Pesola–
Amid Sacramento County’s recent announcement regarding cancellation of their red light camera program, local police say red light cameras remain operational in Citrus Heights.
On Tuesday, Citrus Heights Police Lt. Mike Wells confirmed that a program contract with Redflex Camera Systems is still operational. He said there are 10 red light cameras throughout the city, with the program designed to be “cost neutral” to the city, regardless of how many citations are issued.
According to local news reports, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office stated that their red light camera program was shut down in February after the contract with the vendor ended and it was determined that their program was no longer “cost-neutral.”
In 2021, the Citrus Heights City Council narrowly agreed in a 3-2 vote to extend its contract with Redflex through 2026. The program’s effectiveness was also questioned by several council members during a presentation last year.
During a Nov. 9, 2023, City Council meeting, Wells noted the dangers posed by running red lights, and said 1,109 deaths were caused nationwide by such infractions in 2021. Wells said half of those killed were pedestrians, cyclists, and innocent motorists, while the culprits were speeders or alcohol-impaired drivers. Wells further cited stats from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), indicating that cities which ended red light camera programs between 2010 and 2014 experienced 30 percent more fatal red light collisions.
According to another IIHS study, red-light running crashes led to around 116,000 injuries and 928 fatalities in 2020.
In Citrus Heights, the red light camera program has averaged $78,110 in net revenue for the city each year for the past five fiscal years, according to Wells.
Wells told the council that roughly 37,000 red light events were processed in 2022 by Redflex, with 17,600 sent to CHPD for review, resulting in 13,500 citations issued. About 22 percent of those citations were sent to Citrus Heights residents, he said.
Then-Mayor Tim Schaefer said during the November council meeting that it appeared the cameras were “not changing anything,” as police data showed a similar number of violations were continuing to occur annually.
“I struggle to say that this is an effective program if it’s not changing people’s behavior,” said Schaefer.
Councilmember Jayna Karpinski-Costa expressed concern that drivers might be penalized for not stopping before the crosswalk in preparation for a right turn. Wells explained that drivers would receive a notice, but not a ticket, “because the people that review it will understand that that wasn’t a violation.”
Bret Daniels, who was vice mayor at the time, also questioned if there were other technology available to mitigate potential running of red light situations. In response, Chief of Police Alex Turcotte shared that self-driving cars and car-to-car communication technologies could play a role in preventing red light violations in the future.
Other state and U.S. jurisdictions have also questioned the effectiveness of red light cameras. A previous Sentinel report found that collision data indicates mixed results. In Roseville, the city dropped its red light contract in 2009 after traffic surveys couldn’t find enough potential red light violators to make the system pay for itself, according to the Roseville Press-Tribune.
Texas banned red light cameras statewide in 2019, based in part on a study which concluded that while red light camera systems reduced the number of T-bone collisions, they increased the number of rear-end collisions due to drivers braking suddenly in order to avoid a fine. Evidence did not indicate that use of such systems led to an overall reduction in accidents or injuries.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, seven states have statutes banning red-light cameras. Nevada prohibits red-light camera programs unless law-enforcement personnel are present when cameras are used. Though Texas banned programs, some communities with existing contracts are allowed to continue doing so.
This month, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Amar Gandhi stated in a local news report that the sheriff’s office has requested the Sacramento Superior Court dismiss any tickets that are “open” or categorized as “failure to appear.”
Following the council’s discussion of red light camera’s last year, Mayor Bret Daniels told The Sentinel in December that he expected to see the council take up the matter again this year.
“I do see some further action regarding red light cameras in 2024,” said Daniels. “Not sure where it will take us at this point but we need a more realistic approach that actually enhances safety instead of someone else’s wallet.”
Wells told The Sentinel if the city’s red light camera program were discontinued after the contract expires in 2026, police “have concerns that the potential for deadly red light collisions would increase.”
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Amid the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announcement last week regarding the cancellation of their red light camera program, red light cameras remain operational in Citrus Heights, according to local police...
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