Have You Paid a Red Light Camera Citation?

By Matt Sanderson

Even as the city of Los Angeles decided to shut down its red light camera program and the issue continues being debated in Sacramento over its effectiveness on changing the attitude of motorists speeding through busy intersections, how's the program been working in Hollywood? Patch would like to know.

When asking Patch users on Facebook about the city's red light cameras, here's a sample of the responses:

I see people run the red light at Beverly and Wilshire every time I'm there. It doesn't seem to stop people. I hear that's a pretty hefty fine too. - Jenna Madacy James

I am grateful they are in front of my daughters school over on Wilshire & Whittier, because nearly everyday, someone runs through it, speeding and it gets them. It is such a HUGE and big/busy intersection and everyone is racing, right next to the school. - Maureen Elizabeth

I did get one two years ago in the valley at an MTA/bus crossway, since it was the County of LA I had to pay it, it wasn't the City of LA... sucks $489 and then $50 for traffic school. - Maureen Elizabeth

reason they got rid of los angeles light camera'a is nobody would pay the fine !! it is not hooked into DMV so why pay 500 when there is no consequences ? - Mitch Kavanau

Instead of red light cameras the city should install sepeed cameras at Wilshire, Burton Way, Doheny, Robertson, N Beverly Dr., Sunset and many other streets that become speed drag track when police is not around. - J Lorenzo Martinez


They are owned by independent companies, so it's not like the profits are helping our city or state. I see the flashes daily where I am and at night I notice them constantly. 

That being said, I do make sure I stop on yellow at those intersections since I got a ticket from one when I lived in south OC. It was $395 then (2004). So getting one made me more aware of the fact that yellow means "prepare to stop" not "speed up." - Vanessa Cisterna

I am pretty sure that the City of Beverly Hills has public data that can show you the effectiveness of red light cameras in changing behaviour of motorists and lessening accidents and injuries. In fact if State Law allowed (it prohibits at this time), Beverly Hills would add speed limit cameras. - AJ Willmer

Patch is waiting to find out how the program's been doing in West Hollywood, to see if motorists are, in fact, not speeding through intersections as much. 

No general information is provided on the Los Angeles Superior Court's website, which includes traffic court for Beverly Hills. There is plenty of information about red light cameras available on the California Superior Court's website for Sacramento County.

As this July 30 Sacramento Bee article outlines the "battleground" in California for red light camera companies, including highlighting a claim critics say that some cities' cameras snag motorists who don't come to a complete stop, or ensnare motorists on the timing of the yellow light, there are still 50 governments in the state using them. 

A West Hollywood Patch blogger posed the question of installing the cameras in 2011, including a link to how Beverly Hills was considering expanding its program. 

So what are your thoughts about the red light cameras' effectiveness in Hollywood? Leave your thoughts in the comments.