Poway's Red Light ‘Scameras’ to be Stopped—For Now

Updated 9:48 a.m. with additional details.

Big Brother’s in timeout.

Poway’s red light camera program is set for a six-month hiatus after the City Council on Tuesday voted to test how local drivers behave without it. Mayor Don Higginson, who delivered his State of the City address on Tuesday, proposed eliminating the program altogether like San Diego and other cities have done.

Once locals saw other cities cutting the dreaded red light cameras, they began asking Higginson if Poway would do so, too, he said. The mayor said he believes the program has served its purpose and most drivers have been "conditioned" to drive safer because of the cameras.

The cameras are in place at three intersections: Scripps Poway Parkway and Community Road; Ted Williams Parkway and Pomerado Road; and Poway Road and Pomerado Road. Since the program began in 2005, broadside collisions at the intersections have gone down 53 percent, but rear end accidents (likely due to people stopping quickly to avoid tickets) have increased 8 percent, according to a staff report.

Councilman Steve Vaus questioned whether measures other cities have taken to reduce collisions, such as increasing the duration of yellow lights, could reduce accidents further without the costs and "Big Brother" concerns many people have about the so-called "scameras."

Many people end up with tickets after "California rolling" through the lights in right-hand lanes, costing them nearly $500 after all the state fees are tacked on.

The city only has to give camera operator Redflex a 30-day notice for ending its contract, which is fully covered by the revenue from the tickets. City staff said they hope they will be able to make a deal with the company to turn the cameras off for six months, but still—at not cost—receive data about how many people are violating the lights before the council decides whether to end the contract for good.

Poway resident Dee Fleischman spoke out in favor of the red light cameras, despite admittedly being a speedy driver, because she said the enforcement program has changed her behavior.

“This is a major safety issue. We’re talking about people’s lives here,” she said.

Even though the cameras have increased rear end accidents, Fleischman said she would rather suffer that type of crash than be T-boned in an intersection by a red-light runner.

Tom Scott, a 22-year Poway resident, said he’s concerned that the city would end up coming back later admitting removing the cameras was a mistake after more people got hurt in accidents.

The council asked city staff to explore alternatives to the red-light camera system now in place such as:

• Only eliminating the cameras that record right-hand turns, which mostly catch California rollers.
• Increasing the duration of yellow lights.
• Increase the time that traffic in all directions is stopped at red lights.

Council members also pointed out areas of concern:

• Higginson said some people have become fearful of red light camera intersections because of the flashing lights.
• No cameras means increased responsibility for sheriff’s deputies to monitor light runners.
• The revenue from the program (projected to be $381,065 for the current fiscal year) has been used for safety projects. Higginson said about $185,000 in new funding has been allocated for traffic projects, which led him to believe now was a good time to end the program.
• Councilman Dave Grosch, who lives near the Ted Williams Parkway/Pomerado Road intersection, said he’s noticed a decrease in crashes since the cameras were put in and he’s worried what will happen without them. This particular intersection was noted as a trouble spot because people are often speeding in both directions.

Would you be happy to see the cameras go for good? What concerns would you have? Tell us in the comments.

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