Auto Club: Governor Signs Auto-Club-Sponsored Red Light Camera Reform Bill

LOS ANGELES--Sept. 25, 2003--Governor Gray Davis today signed AB1022, the Red Light Camera Reform Bill into law. The bill was authored by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Carson, and co-sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California and the California State Automobile Association in Northern California.

The new law, which takes effect January 1st, will improve red light camera programs, which have effectively reduced deadly red-light-running crashes at dangerous intersections since they came into widespread use in the late 1990s. The measure provides for tighter control over red light cameras by stipulating that oversight of the programs cannot be delegated to vendors that provide the red light camera service, and that vendors cannot charge for their service on a per-ticket basis.

"Traffic cameras are supposed to improve public safety by catching motorists who run red lights, not to merely make profits for vendors," said Assemblymember Oropeza. "This measure will help ensure that traffic camera programs are not manipulated for profit."

"The governor's signature means that red light camera programs will be managed by cities for safety instead of by vendors for profit," said Anne Drumm, legislative advocate for the Auto Club. "This is a critical step in building public trust in a program that has effectively reduced red light crashes."

A 2002 state auditor report recommended reforms to the red light camera program to eliminate perceived conflicts of interest and restore public trust in the program. AB 1022 was written in response to that report. While the auditor's report noted that most cities studied did not show significant profits from the programs, a per-ticket fee arrangement could lead to the public perception that the vendors are motivated only by profit.

AB 1022 specifies that certain governmental functions cannot be delegated to red light camera vendors. It provides that a government entity must maintain control of the following:

-- Establishing uniform guidelines for screening and issuing citations and for the storage of confidential information and establishing procedures to ensure compliance with guidelines;

-- Assuring that only those citations that have been reviewed and approved by law enforcement are mailed to violators;

-- Overseeing the establishment of or change of signal light timing; and

-- Regularly inspecting and maintaining warning signs.

"Red light cameras contributed to a 10% decrease in accidents caused by motorists running red lights in jurisdictions with cameras compared to jurisdictions without cameras," noted Drumm. "Clearly, the program has merit. We want to ensure that the public also sees its merit."

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.