City Council
MEETING DATE: 3/28/2018
TITLE:
Title
Red Light Safety Camera Program Update
End
FROM:
Travis Walker, Chief of Police
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This is an informational item provided for discussion and direction.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The Cathedral City Police Department began its Red-Light Camera program in August 2006, with cameras at the intersection of Date Palm Drive and Ramon Road. In the almost three-year testing period the traffic collisions decreased by 75%, from 29 accidents to seven. After evaluating the cost of the program and the reduction in traffic collisions at this intersection, two more intersections were outfitted with cameras in February 2009. The cost of the program during this time was $179,640.
The two intersections that were added were Ramon Road and Landau Blvd., and Vista Chino and Date Palm Drive. At this time the contract was renegotiated and the price was reduced to $126,000 per year, or $3,500 a month per camera.
DISCUSSION:
The Red-Light Camera Program has been operational for over ten and a half years now, which provides us with a good historical perspective on the functionality and success of the system.
The following is three years' worth of data on citations issued:
2015 - 3,212 violations reviewed. 2,310 citations issued.
2016 - 3,150 violations reviewed. 2,890 citations issued.
2017 - 2,650 violations reviewed. 2,520 citations issued.
We currently have two officers assigned to the Red-Light Camera program. They spend 84 hours a month in its management. This includes: viewing every violation that occurs, the writing of every citation, preparing for court on contested citations, and testifying in court when necessary. These officers also spend time answering phone calls and talking with the community in the lobby regarding red light camera questions. This 84 hours translates to $128,016 a year for the officers to run this program. This time does not reflect the administrative...
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