Manteca plan for red light cameras stalls

MANTECA, Dec 13, 2008 (The Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- NEST | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Plans to have red light cameras installed at six busy intersections by December have been pushed back a few weeks while details of how the devices will affect traffic flow are being finalized.

Representatives of Nestor Inc., which will install and operate the cameras, have been in town studying the best locations for the cameras, according to Police Department spokesman Rex Osborn.

Determining the best locations is especially important, because the devices do more than just snap pictures of drivers going through the intersections, Osborn explained.

They also have the ability to determine if oncoming vehicles are slowing down enough to stop before the light turns red. If not, the equipment can then adjust the signal to prevent the cross traffic light from turning green before the intersection is clear, he said.

Police Chief David Bricker once was opposed to such cameras because he saw them as "enforcement for just the sake of enforcement."

However, because of the system's ability to delay the signal light changing, he said he now sees their value as a safety measure.

City Council members cited the safety aspects as well in their vote to install the devices.

Even Councilman Vince Hernandez, who voted against the project, said he liked the signal delay aspect. His concerns involve the intrusion of privacy for both drivers and people on the street captured in the camera's videos.

Andrew Sutherland, who has lived in Manteca for 20 years, said he was not aware of the city's plans and, at first, didn't think they were necessary.

When told the cameras also could adjust the lights to keep them from turning if a motorist was approaching too fast, he said the safety feature was a good idea.

His complaint: "People don't signal enough." He wondered if the cameras would catch those offenders.

Bakersfield resident Mary Ann Picanso has been staying with relatives in Manteca for the past month. She said Bakersfield has red light cameras, and "based on the time I've been staying here, I think it's a good idea."

"Anything you can do to make people obey traffic signals is well worth it," she said.

Osborn said he doesn't expect all the cameras will be installed at once, but rather phased in. There will be a grace period for motorists as each intersection comes on line, he said.

Once a camera is in place, Osborn said, operational procedures will be tested. During that phase, expected to last 30 days, no citations will be issued. After that, courtesy warning citations will be issued for a month before tickets are written.

A trained Manteca traffic officer will make the final determination when tickets are issued.

Under terms of its agreement, Nestor will receive up to $6,000 a month per camera for installing and maintaining the equipment. That money will come from traffic fines. If the city's portion of fines does not reach that level, Nestor will not receive the full amount.

The city does not have an estimate of how much revenue the system might generate, according to Assistant City Manager Karen McLaughlin.

Hernandez said he hopes the system will manage to pay for itself, but he said he is opposed to the city benefiting financially from it.

Contact reporter Harley Becker at (209) 239-3354 or hbecker@recordnet.com.

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