Which US States have the red light cameras in use?
- Jinx
They were in use here in San Diego, but I think they’ve been suspended or something because there is a lawsuit pending. The argument is apparently that there is a conflict of interest because the city has a financial stake in how many tickets are issued. It was also being argued that they are dangerous because people might slam on their brakes when they would ordinarily proceed through the intersection.
They are in use in San Francisco. After being accused of running a red light, I researched California law, so I can vouch that they are legal in California. There needs to be a public hearing before installation, and there needs to be a warning side visible from all directions for a certain distance.
That said, I’d be interested in knowing more about this lawsuit in San Diego. Anything that I could use to challenge my accusation would be of assistance.
I found some articles on the web complaining about them. Amoung other complaints, were that most red lights are run withing a second of turning red, if there is a red-light running problem, it is usually caused by a yellow that is too short. The solution is to lengthen the yellow, not to install a red-light camera.
They also claimed that in some places the yellow was shorted when the camera was added.
From my (non-lawyer) research, there is no minimum length of a yellow light in California law. So acording the vehicle code, a green light could instanly turn red and you’d still be guilty of violating the CVC (California Vehicle Code).
The car that I’m accused of driving through a red light was supposedly the 24th car that day to run that light. The light had supposedly been red for 1 second when the car entered the intersection.
MHand:
Here’s the url for the San Diego Union Tribune:
http://www.uniontrib.com/
If you search their archive you’ll find a bunch of articles about the suits.
They’ve got them in Australia in various cities, to my knowledge no-one has sued over them yet. Where I live they are a combined Speed Camera as well, so if you speed up to get through the intersection before the light turns red you will get busted as well.:eek:
Virginia and DC have them in use. I know firsthand: I got zapped by one, ironically just after I’d left the Arlington County Courthouse after I’d paid a parking ticket. 
Also in Virginia, it’s by local jurisdiction that red light cameras are in use. Arlington (county) and Alexandria (city) use them quite a bit, Fairfax (county and city) too. But counties a little further out from DC (Loudoun, Prince William, Facquier) either don’t use them, or at least I’ve never seen the requisite warning signs.
there’s a red light district near me that has cameras everywhere. it’s a real bastard nowadays i have to leave the car afew blocks away and walk wearing a long coat, hat and shades.
North Carolina uses them.
They are here in Richardson TX. (Suburb of Dallas)
Funny thing is used to years ago be able to tune in to a cable chanel to the street cams. Very entertaining:rolleyes:
They are used all over Europe too. Usually in combination with speed camera’s. I hear they’re planning on adding a feature that measures if the care is tailgating too.
you have to admit, those camera’s are pretty danmed ingenious.