After Freeway Shootings, East Bay Mayors Talk Cameras With State
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) – Mayors from Contra Costa County are meeting with state officials Monday in Sacramento to discuss installing cameras on highways in the area after more than 20 shootings have occurred on East Bay highways in recent months.
California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Kelly is meeting with the group of mayors, along with officials from the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans, according to CSTA spokeswoman Melissa Figueroa.
A list of the mayors participating in the meeting was not immediately available.
Since November, more than 20 shootings have occurred along Interstate Highway 80 and state Highway 4 and have resulted in deaths, injuries and property damage.
Last month, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt, Hercules Mayor Dan Romero, Pinole Mayor Roy Swearingen, San Pablo Mayor Richard Kinney and El Cerrito Mayor Greg Lyman sent a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown asking him to support the installation of cameras on local highways.
In response to the letter, Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson said his office was exploring the idea of installing cameras on Highway 80 and Highway 4.
The district attorney's office is working with the CHP, Caltrans and local law enforcement agencies to develop a plan for installing high-resolution pan-tilt, zoom cameras, as well as installing ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology and license plate readers on the highways and on- and off-ramps, according to Peterson.
Also last month, the Pittsburg City Council approved installing surveillance cameras throughout a four-mile stretch of Highway 4.
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