With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Council Approves Red Light Photo Contract with Arizona-Based Company
Los Angeles will not turn off red light enforcement cameras at 32 intersections this summer. The City Council this morning unanimously voted to extend a contract with Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions for 10 months. When the issue comes up again next year, the Council will have to decide to either keep ATS, find a new vendor -- either based in Arizona or not -- or scrap the program altogether.
Despite councilmembers' intention to approve the project -- the Arizona boycott was hardly an issue at play -- a lengthy discussion ensued about how safe the cameras actually make intersections. Citing a CBS2 investigative report that claimed traffic collisions were up at red light photo intersections -- the LAPD, in their view, later debunked it -- officials played 20 questions with police administrators.
In addition to safety concerns, Councilmember Janice Hahn was weary of how cameras lose revenue. Sgt. Matt MacWillie explained that some of the lost money, which is caused by people not paying the tickets, will be recouped when fines are eventually paid as drivers have to pay before their annual registration.
Sponsored message
Regarding safety, MacWillie said that 12 intersections have experienced one or two additional collisions, and two increased by five incidents. However, the 32 intersections, which host two million vehicles every day, have seen zero fatalities since the installation of red light cameras. Rear-end collisions were neither up nor down.
Councilmember Bill Rosendahl indirectly asked how street engineering could improve safety -- slowing down traffic with street calming methods -- but city staff honed in on yellow and red light timing: yellow lights were increased from 3.6 seconds to 3.9 seconds at the 32 intersections and they have an all-red phase of one second, meaning when one side turns red, the other side waits one second before turning green.
As the discussion came to an end, Hahn agreed that statistics can be made to look either way, but she still was concerned with continuing the program past next year.
Councilmember Greig Smith expressed his exasperation with the discussion, which he said already took place at length in committee and three years ago (without saying it, he seemed annoyed at his fellow councilmembers for wasting city staff time). He said today's decision was simple: the city turns the cameras off or keeps them on. They all chose to keep them on.
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
