City OKs red-light camera system

Lolita Harper

Council members approved a preliminary contract for a “red light”

camera system Monday, citing a dire need to cut down on the loss of

life caused by drivers who run red lights.

Costa Mesa Police Lt. Karl Schuler presented the advantages of

such a system, citing the “collision avoidance” feature -- which will

keep cross traffic at bay if a car is predicted to run a red light --

as a priceless characteristic. The system, being installed by Nestor

Traffic Systems Inc., also boasts digital, streamline video that only

starts recording if a car is traveling at speeds that indicate it

will run the red light.

The video is then transferred over dedicated phone lines to the

police department where an officer reviews it and can then swear in

court as a witness to the alleged crime.

“Other cities with the same system have seen a significant

decrease in collisions citywide, not just at the intersections where

cameras are,” Schuler said.

City staff members have recommended a “turnkey’’ program, in which

the company would install cameras at designated intersections at no

cost in return for a portion of the fine resulting from a violation.

Nestor would receive $95.70 for every $271 fine captured by the

system, a staff report shows.

The preliminary contract mandates $3,336.75 to Nestor per month,

which would equal at least one ticket per day for each intersection

where the system is installed, Schuler said.

Schuler said he is confident the high-volume intersections that

are being recommended for the program would generate enough tickets

to uphold the agreement.

“Unfortunately, we have records of accidents to prove that,”

Schuler said.

Some audience members questioned the need for the system, saying

it sounded like a scheme to create revenue for both Nestor and the

city.

Mayor Linda Dixon refuted that notion, saying the main component

of the program is to reduce accidents and subsequent injury.

Furthermore, the mayor suggested any extra revenue -- more than the

cost of running the system -- be donated to drivers’ education

programs.

“We are not implementing this to make a profit,” Dixon said.

Resident Janice Davidson, who previously opposed the surveillance

system, said she had had a change of heart.

“I have seen in the last few months so many people run lights that

we have to do something,” Davidson said. “Lets at least just try it

out because I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

Schuler said the proposed contract will be forwarded to Nestor and

then the city will coordinate with the company to obtain an

installation date, he said.