Health & Fitness
No Turn on Red: Inconvenient Fine or Potential Revenue?
What do you think about red-light camera citations? Napa's cameras reduce accident and injuries while generating revenue. Should Novato get in the game?
If you regularly make a right hand turn toward Vintage Oaks from the Rowland off ramp on Highway 101, then you are probably aware that the intersection is a “no turn on red." Regardless of the multiple posted signs, you don’t have to be there too long to see drivers still make the turn.
On occasion, I have been stopped at the turn waiting for the light to change when cars behind me started honking in frustration as they wondered why I wouldn’t make the turn myself—clearly they don’t know about the posted signs or simply don’t care.
Making this illegal turn results in the same hefty fine as running a red light. However, with the installation of red light cameras, it can generate enough revenue to fund additional patrol officers in our dwindling police department.
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This whole issue just came front and center in the city of Napa. Napa installed red light cameras at four intersections in 2009 and 2010 that have generated $25,000 a month for the city. Napa recently renewed their contract with Redflex Traffic Systems, which installs and maintains the red-light camera programs. In response to citizen complaints, the Napa City Council decided to eliminate the automatic citations for rolling right hand turns from Highway 29 to 121.
Their red-light citations are $459 with $155 of that amount going to the city. Based on those numbers, a similar program in Novato could possibly fund additional police officers for the city. Just four citations a day would generate $225,000 in revenue each year. The cameras roughly cost $75,000 a year, which leaves $150,000 for police and increased traffic safety. And that is based on only four citations a day. If you stand at that intersection, you will count four violations in less than 15 minutes.
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There are several pros and cons of the idea. The greatest benefit is the reduction of traffic accidents and injuries. When you add the extra revenue to possibly fund additional police officers, the program sounds like a win-win. On the flip side, everyone making that right hand turn is heading to Vintage Oaks shopping center to spend money in our city. What sort of impact would a $500 citation have? It is proven that the cameras reduce violations, but could they also repel consumers?
What are your thoughts? Should red-light cameras be explored or dismissed? Would they result in an inconvenient fine or potential revenue?
