Community Corner

6 Items to Know from the Encinitas Red Light Camera Program Report

The Encinitas City Council will discuss a staff report at its Wednesday's meeting about the red light camera program.

The Encinitas City Council is scheduled to receive a report from city staff about the red light camera program at its 6 p.m. meeting Wednesday. The full report is available online on the City of Encinitas website.

The city entered into an agreement with Redflex in 2004 "In an effort to reduce the number of vehicles running red lights,” according to the report. The intersection of El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard has had cameras running since June 9, 2004. And the intersection of El Camino Real with Leucadia Boulevard and Olivenhain Road went up Nov. 12, 2005.

Related: Read Wednesday's Encinitas City Council Agenda

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City staff did not recommend a move to continue or end the program, but rather for the council to provide the staff direction.

The report published various items of interest, including: 

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  • The City of Encinitas has three Redflex systems at two intersections that currently cost the city $3, 863 each. The intersection at El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard has two cameras.
  • The City of Encinitas has seen a 31 percent reduction in the total number of collisions and a 57 percent reduction in light running collisions at both intersections.
  • Since the program began, the city has recorded how many rear end collisions were caused by drivers who stopped early on a yellow light to avoid being cited. It counted the Leucadia intersection with four of those and the Encinitas intersection with five since the beginning of the program.
  • In November of last year, the Encinitas Traffic Commission unanimously recommended the city continue the program. Only one member, Peter Kohl, showed a willingness to expand the program. He cited reports that show a reduction in accidents and believes the only people who are against the program are people who have been ticketed, according to the minutes.
  • Tickets for failing to stop currently cost $490. On average, the city gets $92.
  • From 2004 to the end of 2012, the city has received $2,157,649.It has paid Redflex $1,403,016. That’s a difference of $754,633.
What do you think of the red light camera program? Tell us in the comments. 


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