‘Photo red’ cameras would target red-light runners

Cameras would be set up at busy Spokane intersections to photograph red-light runners under a plan given the green light Monday by the public safety committee of the Spokane City Council.

Police officials said the system would improve public safety – and could be a moneymaker for City Hall.

The council still has to approve installation of the system as well as a contract with a private company to set up the cameras.

Several cities in Washington, including Seattle, Moses Lake, Ellensburg and Auburn, have the system, known as “photo red,” in place or pending. So far, no cities in Idaho have photo red systems.

Statistics show dramatic drops in collisions and fatalities where the program has been in use, officials said.

“Red-light violations are serious,” said Spokane police Lt. Bill Drollinger. “It’s a problem everywhere.”

The cameras automatically would photograph vehicles that enter intersections after a light turns red.

Only the backs of vehicles would be pictured, and not the drivers. Citations would be sent to vehicle owners and would have the same force as parking tickets, thus not affecting insurance rates. Police suggested a fine of $101, which is the same as a red-light ticket issued by an officer.

Drollinger told committee members that because collisions at red lights occur at right angles, they often cause serious injuries. A red-light enforcement system would reduce injuries, he said. Officers said they have a hard time catching red-light violators because it’s hard to both see a violation and be in a position to chase down the violator.

“These right-angle collisions are life-altering events,” Drollinger said. “They are devastating to families.”

Police said they would like to install the system at intersections with high collision rates, including along Division Street at Francis and Wellesley avenues.

Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said that her department has researched the systems and is ready to begin seeking private bids to supply the equipment and maintenance. Mayor Dennis Hession is supporting the proposal, she said.

“We see this as a great benefit,” Kirkpatrick said. “We’re ready to move forward. We want your blessing.”

Council President Joe Shogan and council members Bob Apple and Mary Verner all voted to give the department a go-ahead. Apple, however, asked the department to review the impact of a red-light enforcement system on residential streets and review signal timing to stop backups on busy streets.

City officials sought to implement a photo red system several years ago, but the proposal died over controversy about picturing drivers and having their drivers’ records affected by the automated citations.

Washington state lawmakers last year modified the state’s traffic code so that drivers cannot be photographed and the citations do not become part of motorists’ driving records. The citations are not public records and insurance companies cannot collect information on the citations, said Sgt. Eric Olsen.

The digital photo red systems come with an intriguing feature. When a vehicle owner receives a citation, it can include a Web site address and a special code allowing the owner to review the alleged violation as it occurred with details about time of day, speed of the vehicle and how long the light had been red when the motorist entered the intersection.

The cost to the city is relatively small. Vendors will guarantee that revenue from the digital system is at least equal to the costs of the leases. A single camera pointed in one direction at a busy intersection could yield $16,000 a month or more in net revenue to the city, based on reports from other locations, Olsen said.

Police said that the money would go to the city general fund and would not have to be shared with the state as are other traffic fines. Also, police recommended that net revenue be reinvested in improved traffic safety.