The Manteca City Council has voted unanimously to adopt plans that could bring red light camera systems to some intersections to catch violators.
Manteca Police Chief Stephen Schluer said at the Tuesday meeting that traffic safety has become an increasingly pressing concern to the city due to drivers running red lights at intersections.
In the past year, Manteca has had over 150 collisions within intersections in the city, Schluer said.
Cameras would be placed at five or up to seven intersections throughout the city, depending on the need.
Some of the intersections identified by city staff for possible installations of the cameras include South Airport Way at Daniels Street, East Yosemite Avenue at Commerce Way and Northwoods Avenue, North Main Street at Northgate Drive, West Yosemite Avenue at Union Road and North Main Street at East Louise Avenue.
Not the typical cameras
The cameras being proposed would not be the typical old-fashioned cameras that simply capture a photo of a person’s vehicle.
Instead, the red light cameras will take photos of the car while in the intersection, will take note of the speed the car was going and take a 12-second video of the violation occurring.
Violators will then receive a citation in the mail with a website link that will show them a video of their vehicle committing the infringement, police said.
During public comment, one person raised concerns about the cameras possibly taking a photo of someone who was legally making a turn on a red light, causing them to receive a ticket.
However, Schluer said in the case that the cameras were to capture someone making a legal right-hand turn or going over a line slightly, police will be able to review the footage and determine if a violation took place.
Councilmember Charlie Halford said the cameras were worth it if it means preventing an injury or death.
Prior to the cameras being installed, the city and police will make announcements to the public about the new systems.
Then once they’re installed, there will be a 30-day warning period for violators where anyone who runs a red light will receive proof of the violation, but they will receive a warning first rather than a ticket.
