RED LIGHT CAMERAS
Each year, more than 1.8 million intersection crashes occur on our nations roadways. In 2001, 200,000 crashes, 150,000 injuries, and about 1,100 deaths were attributed to red light running. Overall, 55.8 percent of Americans admit to running red lights. Yet 96 percent of drivers fear a red light runner will hit them when they enter an intersection.
With these staggering facts the Oxnard Police Department’s Traffic Unit has taken the lead in photo red light enforcement. Being one of the first cities in the nation to implement a photo red light enforcement program, Oxnard has taken its program to the next phase with photo and video enforcement.
Automated red light enforcement programs have proven effective in accident reduction. In Oxnard, our red light enforcement program reduced red light running violations by 42 percent from 1996 to 2003. Violations declined about 40 percent also in Fairfax, Virginia, after one year of camera enforcement, and also fell at other intersections as motorists became more aware of the need for safe driving. Elsewhere intersection crashes have fallen by one third and serious injuries fell by 10 percent.
In a national public opinion survey 61% of the public were in favor of automated Red Light Enforcement. Where Red Light Photo Enforcement is used there have been significant decreases in red light violations and major increases in motorist awareness at targeted intersections. Due to increased awareness, drivers are less likely to run a red light even at an unmonitored intersection.
Oxnard currently contracts with the Scottsdale, AZ based company, Redflex Traffic Systems, for its photo red light enforcement. Under a five-year contract, Redflex has installed photo and video enforcement cameras to cover 11 intersection approaches at our most crash-ridden intersections.
WHAT IF I GET A PHOTO RED LIGHT CITATION?
- Each red light citation carries a $491 penalty.
- Citations will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within 15 days of the violation.
- The citation will include four photographs of the vehicle:
One image showing the position of the vehicle prior to entering the intersection after the light has already turned red. The image also shows the red light. An image showing the progression of the vehicle through the intersection while the light is still red. A close-up image of the driver’s face. A close-up of the vehicle’s license plate
If necessary, the registered owner/violator may view the violation by logging on to “photonotice.com” entering the citation number and the city code “OXN” or by requesting a viewing of the photographs by calling the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit at 805.797.6624.
A specific appointment date and time will be given to the registered owner/violator where the photographs and video of the violation may be viewed. If the registered owner is not the driver, they can identify the driver of the vehicle at the time of the viewing for their citation to be dismissed; otherwise they will be referred to the court for adjudication.
Failure to pay the fine or appear in court on the violation will result in an additional fine against the registered owner’s driver’s license.
WHAT IF I WASN’T THE DRIVER?
If you were not the driver of the vehicle at the time of violation you may “nominate” or identify the actual driver. Simply fill out the nomination form provided with your citation and mail back to Redflex. The appropriate driver information will be amended to the citation.