Red Light Cameras
By Matt Artz
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 1:49 pm in Uncategorized.
Passions are flaring in Argus/Hayward Daily Review land this week over red light cameras.
One aggressive reporter recently got a $400+ ticket for making a right-turn on red without stopping. A colleague says “fooey” to that, because it’s not as unsafe as going straight through an intersection.
But another reporter, one who’s unable to grow a decent beard or resist free food, knows a cool chick who recently got knocked off her bike by someone making an illegal right turn.
If you think a red light ticket is costly, try emergency room bills. They just kept coming.
Anyway, we’re going to try learn more about red light cameras in the Tri-Cities beyond all the stuff we wrote four years ago regarding Union City’s issues with them. Maybe we’ll get something in the paper by June.
Until then, below is a list of intersections where Fremont has its cameras. There are also three other intersections where there are camera casings, but no cameras. Tricky.
- Auto Mall Pkwy at Fremont Bl
- Auto Mall Pkwy at Grimmer Bl
- Decoto Rd at Fremont Bl
- Decoto Rd at Paseo Padre Pkwy
- Mowry Ave at Fremont Bl
- Mowry Ave at Blacow Rd
- Mowry Ave at Farwell Dr
- Stevenson Bl at Blacow Rd
- Mission Blvd and Mohave Dr
- Mission Blvd and Warm Springs Bl
Thanks for the map, Jonathan.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106437246407570118548.00048169e0375b12a251c&ll=37.530149,-121.969528&spn=0.148657,0.363579&t=h&z=12
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March 9th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
How does the camera know when a vehicle has come to a full stop and then proceeds with a right turn vs. the vehicle that does not? Because you can turn right on red after a full stop.
March 9th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
The camera shoots video. It’s not still photos.
March 9th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
If it’s video what’s the purpose of the flash? Just so you know you’ve run the light?
March 9th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I think the flashes make the still pictures clearer, since they need to get your face as well as your license plate. It will flash multiple times to get the right shots. I can confirm that the camera at Automall and Fremont will trigger for a rolling right turn on red (onto North bound Fremont) but not for a full stop :-/
March 9th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
As I understand, the RedFlex system will flash anyway if you come past a certain point at 15 mph or above, but they’ll review the video and, if you clearly stopped, toss it out. Because I don’t trust that one at Auto Mall & Fremont, though, I’ve just started pretending I’m going straight, then turning when the light turns green. I’m sure it annoys people (it annoys me), but they’ll never get a shot of me across the line with a red light in the background.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Matt,
As a public service, I turned your list into a google map, here: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106437246407570118548.00048169e0375b12a251c&ll=37.530149,-121.969528&spn=0.148657,0.363579&t=h&z=12. It looks like a pretty even distribution.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
just wear a Wasserman mask if you run a red.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:34 am
I have managed to drive in fremont for years without ever getting a red light ticket – maybe its because I stop for red lights and on Right turns? If you don’t stop, you get a ticket – and avoid killing someone. So what’s the problem? People need to realize that someone in the bay area dies everyday or so from an auto accident! Think about it and take the time to at least slow down for yellow lights and stop for red ones.
March 10th, 2010 at 11:48 am
John: I agree, and getting the ticket has made me change my behavior… Even before the ticket I was pretty careful when making a turn on red, but now I do a full stop.
March 17th, 2010 at 6:51 am
Penalty for right turns on red not commensurate w/severity. Still $446.
Most large intersections do not require a stop at all when turning right. Danger to pedestrians seems greater. I wonder if accident data supports this.
More red light violations are handed out from camera at AutoMall and Fremont Bl. than any other intersection in the city. It does not seem like there would be much pedestrian activity since south of AutoMall is not retail or residential – primarily industrial.
Very few accidents occur from turning right on red lights.
March 25th, 2010 at 8:01 am
http://www.highwayrobbery.net/TrcDocsFremontTicketCounts2001-2009recd2010Feb28.xls
copy and paste this link onto browser to see chart of all Fremont citations by intersection for each calendar year 2001 – 2009.
March 25th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Once Again!
We need to fix this, write Mayor Wasserman.
“The cost of a violation can approach $550. Although many complain that’s too much for a rolling right turn, cameras are growing in popularity among cash-strapped cities”
A example of a trap is at Auto Mall Parkway & Fremont Blvd. The four corners of the intersection for right hand turns, three are yield signs and one is a stop sign, yes , you are right that is where the camera is.
It has been reported that people are obeying the red lights, so in order to generate more income, they are setting traps.
This is not right. Who is running Fremont, Mayor Wasserman or the puppet master Fred Diaz.
March 25th, 2010 at 10:09 am
C-guy: the answer is “puppet master” Fred Diaz!
April 18th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Hi all,
Recently, I was driving back home about 8pm in the night. Approaching the traffic signal and it turned red just as I got there. I took a quick look around, realized there were NO peds and NO cars, so I did not STOP. As I made the right turn without stopping, cameras went off flash in a zillion directions. 3 weeks later I get a ticket in the mail with pictures and a speed gun reading which showed that my turn speed was 15mph. My ticket cost is $500. WTF..its more expensive than a speeding tix! Now my questiosn are:
1. Can one appear in court and appeal saying that since there were no vehicles and peds around, I did not endanger anyone. Is that considered a valid appeal for fine reduction?
2. Has anybody made a similar appeal in the Fremont Hall of Justice and won the appeal?
3. Is the rolling right turn on red a violation that is fine reducible or not?
Any input greatly appreciated! Did this have to happen after my tax returns :–((( Booo!!