City may put brakes on red-light runners

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Smile, you’re about to get a ticket.

The City Council, acting as the city’s Redevelopment Agency, discussed

Monday the possibility of installing traffic surveillance cameras to

catch drivers who run red lights.

After months of research -- at the council’s request -- Costa Mesa

Police Lt. Carl Schuler presented information touting the success of such

surveillance programs and recommended TrafficVision, from Nestor Traffic

Systems, to the Redevelopment Agency.

The traffic system is different from surveillance cameras previously

implemented in other cities because it creates streamline digital video,

not still pictures, Schuler said. The system is able to take 30 frames

per second, as opposed to four frames on a still camera, he said.

What gained Schuler’s recommendation, however, was that the Nestor

system has a collision avoidance function, which will delay the signal of

cross traffic if a car is predicted to run a red light.

“If this camera detects a car that’s not slowing down for a red light,

the program will hold cross traffic for any amount of time that we

determine,” Schuler said.

The camera’s software can determine potential law breakers based on

the timing of the light, the speed of the car and the distance from the

intersection, said Irvine Police Sgt. Denny Jenner, whose agency also

researched the program.

Costa Mesa police worked with Irvine police in determiningits

recommendation. Irvine is finishing contract negotiations with Nestor and

plans to install the cameras soon, Jenner said.

From Jan. 1, 1998, to May 31,2001, there were 881 traffic collisions

caused by people running red lights in Costa Mesa, Schuler said. Of

those, 419 resulted in personal injury and two were fatal, Schuler said.

Schuler said the traffic system could do the work of at least 12

officers, greatly reducing the number of accidents.

In addition, the system could be installed at no cost to the city,

Schuler said. If agreed upon, Nestor would install the cameras for free

and then take a percentage of the $271 fine that violators would pay,

Schuler said. The city and county would also receive a percentage,

Schuler said without disclosing the exact amounts.

However, the percentages of revenue discourage Councilman Gary

Monahan. Monahan, who was not at the Redevelopment Agency study session,

said he does not support the traffic surveillance system.

“If I felt it would deter accidents, I would support it, but I think

it is a revenue enhancement and Big Brother getting even farther into our

lives,” Monahan said.

Although he believes the system is inevitable, gauging the support of

his fellow council members, he said he doesn’t support any system that

was designed to put money in the pockets of the equipment company.

Monahan also said he believes there are legal problems with the

proposed surveillance system.

But people should not expect any privacy while driving their car on a

public road, Schuler said. What is inside the vehicle may be protected,

but driving is a privilege, not a right, he said.

“It’s no more a violation of privacy than a police officer observing

you; it’s just a different set of eyes,” he said.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .

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