Attention, drivers: red light special in lane two

I believe that the red-light cameras are a fantastic, wonderful idea

because I am so tired of seeing drivers blatantly drive through red

lights, even though they turn red right before they get to it -- or

at least right at it. So I am all in favor, and I usually stop at

yellow lights.

LOUISE RUSHER

Costa Mesa

In regard to the red-light cameras being a good idea. They are a

good idea, because there are so many people running the red lights on

17th and 19th streets and Adams Boulevard.

People are just in such a big hurry that they take chances,

risking their lives as well as the lives of others. I think the

camera program is a good idea. Perhaps if it will effect their

finances, these red light runners will stop and think if it is worth

running a red light. Too bad it didn’t matter when it meant risking

your life or the life of someone else.

JUNE MCKINZIE

Newport Beach

When I first heard about Costa Mesa’s plan to install red-light

cameras at the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Adams Avenue, I

was very disturbed. I think that these cameras are an affront to our

legal system and Constitution, as they rob citizens of the ability to

face their accuser in court.

They also have the potential to pin the crime on the registered

owner of a vehicle regardless of who may have actually been driving

when the violation occurred. Additional valid and serious concerns

have been raised about privacy issues -- the very real intrusion on

the privacy of drivers and passengers in other cars whose pictures

are inadvertently taken along with the red-light runners.

Then there is the matter of the fine -- a whopping $306 per

violation. Thankfully, I have not received a moving violation for a

long time, so I don’t know if this is the prevailing rate, but it is

still a shocking amount of money -- a full week’s pay (after taxes)

for someone making $10 per hour.

Even more offensive is that 36% of that fine goes to Nestor

Traffic Systems, the operator of the cameras. Profit motive should

never play a part in law enforcement. We’ve all heard nasty rumors of

police officers having ticket quotas, which has been never alleged in

Costa Mesa to my knowledge, but this scheme makes no bones about it.

Nestor needs to bust Costa Mesans to stay in business.

Despite these concerns, Costa Mesa has erected more of these

red-light cameras. Granted, running a red light is extraordinarily

dangerous and should be taken very seriously by the city. The city

would have to hire many more traffic officers to even begin to make a

dent in the number of violations. From following the debate over

their use in the Pilot, it appears that red-light cameras were the

only viable option. To the city’s credit, the system that they have

employed is far more sophisticated than ones in other cities.

The need for these cameras is also painfully obvious. A few years

ago, I sat and watched a brilliant Costa Mesa Police Department

operation at the intersection of Newport Boulevard and 17th Street.

Working in teams with both patrol cars and motorcycles, Costa Mesa

officers repeatedly ticketed motorists running red lights and

remaining in the intersection after the lights turned red. This went

on for hours, and there was never a shortage of violators despite

heavy police presence. It was astonishing.

Years later, I still routinely miss my opportunity to turn left

onto 17th Street from southbound Newport Boulevard because of drivers

still clogging the intersection after the light turns red. The

problem is still as bad as ever. Now that the city has installed

these cameras, with their space-age lighting and proliferation of

poles (aesthetics anyone?), it is highly unlikely that they will

remove them due to concerns raised by people like myself.

I sincerely hope the city researched these issues and has

installed sufficient safeguards that will protect our rights. If all

goes well, they will deter red-light running and dramatically

increase safety. If my concerns -- centered around profit, privacy

and due process -- are warranted and these cameras become a problem,

then we must take them to the City Council and Police Department and

demand that our rights be protected.

ROBERT DICKSON

Costa Mesa

All Costa Mesans should be very pleased and gratified that the

city is adding two more red-light cameras on Newport Boulevard.

Traffic collisions caused by red-light violations are often very

violent and frequently cause major property damage, serious injury,

disability and even death. The emotional and financial losses

occasioned by such collisions are extreme.

The red-light cameras will soon persuade drivers to run red lights

much less frequently. The operation of red-light cameras is not an

illegal invasion of the privacy of any drivers anymore than would the

physical presence of a police officer to observe the violation and

issue a citation. Indeed, many of us have seen such violations and

muttered something to the effect “Where’s a cop when we need one?”

The red-light camera is a silent and ever-vigilant cop in such

matters.

Lastly, the city’s portion of the money paid for the red-light

violations is all going to be used for high school driver education

programs. The portion of the ticket fees paid to the company with

which the city has contracted is a reasonable price for reducing

serious property damages, injuries, deaths and unrecoverable city

costs for police and emergency services when such collisions take

place. We should not begrudge that company for this invaluable

service.

Hopefully, the Costa Mesa Police will conduct a comprehensive

survey and report to everyone the reductions in collisions that will

be achieved.

DAVID STILLER

Costa Mesa