Grand Jury: No Evidence Citrus Heights Red-Light Cameras Prevent Accidents
CITRUS HEIGHTS (CBS13) — The Citrus Heights Police Department does not regularly monitor the length of yellow lights, or have evidence the city's red-light cameras are preventing accidents, according to a Sacramento County Grand Jury report.
While the California Department of Transportation has standards for how long yellow lights should be, the city does not physically monitor the length of those lights, according to the report. The city has a warning system if the light falls under a certain threshold, but doesn't actively time the lights to see if they are malfunctioning.
READ: 2014-2015 Sacramento County Grand Jury Report
When the grand jury asked for accident report data on red-light intersections, it says the police department provided incomplete and inaccurate information, including duplicated accidents and information for intersections with no red lights.
Citrus Heights has contracted with Redflex since the cameras were installed in 2008.
Stockton recently ended its red-light camera program, citing little cost or safety benefit from it. Police found the cost of running the cameras and red-light running tickets weren't cost-neutral. On top of that, the cameras were not stopping accidents from happening at several major intersections.
Without the police data, the grand jury said it can't properly evaluate Citrus Heights' program.
The grand jury recommends police actually produce data the department can analyze when it comes to traffic incidents. For the yellow-light issue, it recommends the city set a minimum timing for yellow lights and conduct on-site physical timing inspections.
The city has until Oct. 1 to respond to the report.
