Red-light runners to get fines back Motorists...

Red-light runners to get fines back

Motorists who received citations for running a red light at one

Costa Mesa intersection with be getting their money back and

citations dismissed, police officials said on Friday.

That’s because they have realized that the yellow light at the

intersection of northbound Newport Boulevard and 17th Street was

shorter than required by state law based on the posted speed limit,

Costa Mesa Police Lt. Tom Curtis said.

The yellow light had been set at 3.6 seconds instead of the

required 4.3 seconds, he said.

The red light camera at this intersection has been operational

since Oct. 3, 2003, Curtis said. A total of 579 citations were issued

there during four months, of which 200 have already been paid, he

said. The red light camera there was shut down on Feb. 11, 2004, when

officials learned about the error.

The city will ask officials at Harbor Justice Center to reverse

convictions and dismiss unresolved citations relating to this

particular intersection, Curtis said. The city will also give out

refunds to motorists who have already paid up their fines, he said.

The error was corrected and the system was reset at that

intersection on March 18, 2004, officials said.