L.A. Police Commission Rejects Red-Light Traffic Camera Program

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Commission on June 7 voted down an LAPD proposal to continue the city's red-light camera program, the Los Angeles Times reported. Unless the Los Angeles City Council decides to intervene and strip the five-member, all-civilian commission of its authority on the matter, the commission's decision will lead to a shut-down of the 32 red-light cameras located throughout the city.

Los Angeles Police Department officials came to the commission meeting recommending that commission members vote to award a new three- or five-year contract to American Traffic Solutions to operate the program. But instead of discussing the merits of the vendor, commissioners revisited the debate over whether such programs are cost-effective and lead to a reduction in collisions.

Since local courts haven't pursued drivers who refuse to pay the citation fine, the program has amounted to a voluntary citation program, Commissioner Alan Skobin said. The tickets often run more than $400 each. When they go unpaid, the LAPD hands the matter over to a collections agency, despite the position the courts have taken.

If the L.A. City Council doesn't intervene on the matter by June 17, the red-light camera program in Los Angeles will be cancelled.