North County Times
Red-light cameras are sort of like the weather: Everyone complains about them, but no one can do anything about them.
Well, not exactly. Murrieta resident Diana Serafin is collecting signatures in a grass-roots campaign to place an initiative on the ballot that would retire the red-light camera program in her city.
By late next month, we should know whether she has enough valid signatures to put the matter up for a vote.
Murrieta officials are among those who are watching closely to see what happens.
They operate red-light cameras at three intersections now. And they want to add cameras at the Interstate 215 southbound offramp at Murrieta Hot Springs Road, as well as at the Interstate 15 northbound offramp at Murrieta Hot Springs.
"It's where our most serious T-bone accidents are occurring," Murrieta police Cpl. Jay Froboese said in a recent interview.
But everything is on hold, pending the outcome.
Murrieta Councilman Rick Gibbs said he believes the petition drive is misguided but is prepared to accept the outcome, whatever that is.
"If they win, so be it," Gibbs said. "We will live with the consequences of that vote ---- one way or another."
One consequence, obviously, would be having to take the existing cameras out. Another would be a reduction in the level of safety at the three intersections with them, city officials say.
"I guarantee you there will be more accidents at those intersections when those cameras are gone," said Murrieta police Sgt. Jim Gruwell. "And possibly more deaths."
Some might dismiss such a statement as a scare tactic, but Murrieta officials seem sincere. They say there is reason to believe safety would be compromised.
They point to accident records kept for the five-year period extending from the October 2005 debut of the cameras through December 2010.
At two intersections with cameras along Murrieta Hot Springs Road, which carries 60,000 cars a day, there were 14 broadside collisions during that time, Froboese said.
In comparison, there were 42 broadside collisions ---- three times as many ---- at a pair of other busy intersections on Murrieta Hot Springs Road that don't have cameras, he said.
Froboese said the city is purposely limiting cameras to the places where accident rates are high.
Gibbs said motorists won't ever see them everywhere.
"That conjures up images of the movie 'Robocop,'" Gibbs said. "Me, personally, I would object to having a red-light camera at every intersection in the city ---- in any city. That just goes against the grain of our Constitution."
Well, not exactly. Murrieta resident Diana Serafin is collecting signatures in a grass-roots campaign to place an initiative on the ballot that would retire the red-light camera program in her city.
By late next month, we should know whether she has enough valid signatures to put the matter up for a vote.
Murrieta officials are among those who are watching closely to see what happens.
They operate red-light cameras at three intersections now. And they want to add cameras at the Interstate 215 southbound offramp at Murrieta Hot Springs Road, as well as at the Interstate 15 northbound offramp at Murrieta Hot Springs.
"It's where our most serious T-bone accidents are occurring," Murrieta police Cpl. Jay Froboese said in a recent interview.
But everything is on hold, pending the outcome.
Murrieta Councilman Rick Gibbs said he believes the petition drive is misguided but is prepared to accept the outcome, whatever that is.
"If they win, so be it," Gibbs said. "We will live with the consequences of that vote ---- one way or another."
One consequence, obviously, would be having to take the existing cameras out. Another would be a reduction in the level of safety at the three intersections with them, city officials say.
"I guarantee you there will be more accidents at those intersections when those cameras are gone," said Murrieta police Sgt. Jim Gruwell. "And possibly more deaths."
Some might dismiss such a statement as a scare tactic, but Murrieta officials seem sincere. They say there is reason to believe safety would be compromised.
They point to accident records kept for the five-year period extending from the October 2005 debut of the cameras through December 2010.
At two intersections with cameras along Murrieta Hot Springs Road, which carries 60,000 cars a day, there were 14 broadside collisions during that time, Froboese said.
In comparison, there were 42 broadside collisions ---- three times as many ---- at a pair of other busy intersections on Murrieta Hot Springs Road that don't have cameras, he said.
Froboese said the city is purposely limiting cameras to the places where accident rates are high.
Gibbs said motorists won't ever see them everywhere.
"That conjures up images of the movie 'Robocop,'" Gibbs said. "Me, personally, I would object to having a red-light camera at every intersection in the city ---- in any city. That just goes against the grain of our Constitution."
Call staff writer Dave Downey at 951-676-4315, ext. 2623
Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/downey/article_0d03dc73-f484-5945-970d-2d8b8c27e230.html#ixzz1WquyFcKS
Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/downey/article_0d03dc73-f484-5945-970d-2d8b8c27e230.html#ixzz1WquyFcKS
