City Council
MEETING DATE: 6/10/2015
TITLE:
Title
Red Light Safety Camera Program Update
End
FROM:
George Crum, Police Chief
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This is an informational item provided for discussion and direction.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Traffic and traffic enforcement have long been recognized concerns for the citizens of Cathedral City. As police departments across the country are all struggling with issues including budgetary concerns and the human resources available to accomplish the increased demands from their citizenry, the growth of the Valley has added additional traffic loads on Cathedral City roadways; thus, increasing the importance for continued traffic enforcement opportunities. As our budgets shrink and demands for service increase, it is prudent to investigate the use of existing and emerging technologies to help make our roadways even safer. These technologies assist our goals and objectives by providing a low cost alternative to meet the demand for safer streets. The Red Light Safety Camera Program has been a part of our overall traffic safety strategy since 2006. As a result of our current program, we have more awareness, less speeding and fewer collisions at our most vulnerable intersections.
The Cathedral City Police Department first implemented the ATS Red Light Safety Camera System beta program in the n/b lanes of Date Palm Drive @ Ramon Road on August 25th, 2006. The monthly cost for the ATS service contract was not to exceed $5,285.00 per month or $63,420 per year, and was originally contracted to be a cost neutral system. Over the next year and a half, the Police Department worked with ATS and the Riverside County Courts in Indio to track and document the fines and revenues generated by the Red Light Camera System. During this period, the original beta test service contract term was extended two times to allow for the fine revenues to catch up to the monthly cost of the system, due to ...
Click here for full text