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LAPD Chief Beck Gives Red Light Cameras a Green Light
Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
Los Angeles Police Department's Chief Charlie Beck continues to support the city's red light camera program, according to LA Now, and "insists the program is needed to reduce accidents and save lives, despite that it's losing millions of dollars because of unpaid tickets."
Previously, City Controller Wendy Greuel examined the program in an audit, and found that the cameras had not necessarily been installed at the intersections considered to be the most dangerous. Greuel also identified that the program "lost $2.5 million over the last two years."
In his report, Beck uses data regarding the number of citations issued, and the 63 percent decrease in red-light traffic accidents from 2004 to 2009. He also believes the cameras function as a "public awareness campaign," which influences drivers' decisions to not run red lights. Police commissioners will be reviewing Beck's report, and further examining the necessity for the program next week.
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