Red light runners are being harshly enforced by the City of Manteca. Not all of the police department’s red light cameras are operational yet, but they claim to have already issued more than 500 penalties in just one month.
These cameras will eventually be placed at several crossroads, totaling 14 right-of-ways, to capture lawbreakers.
Several red light cameras may be seen at busy junctions including Daniels Street and Airport Way.
“It’s a bit surprising, maybe alarming, that many people are running a red light,” Manteca Police Chief Stephen Schluer stated.
According to Chief Schluer, 527 red-light citations were given out in the city in May. He claims that despite the city’s five operational red light cameras, drivers continue to drive “10 to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit as they just run through a red light.”
Drivers are fined $490 for each infraction, with a portion of the money going back to the department.
“That goes back into the red light camera fund. We pay our bill of $5,250 per approach, and the remaining of that stays in the general fund for the police department,” Schluer stated.
To deal with minor problems, the funds will be used to hire a community service officer.
“Free up our traffic officers by taking minor collisions, to continue doing their daily duties of writing citations, patrolling,” he stated.
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Once online and during their 30-day grace periods, when drivers receive warnings rather than tickets, nine additional cameras will go into operation. Later this year, everyone should be online.
“This isn’t for revenue. It’s for safety,” Schluer stated. “If people are stopping at red lights, they’re stopping at others too because it becomes a habit.”
The council can determine if the initiative is worthwhile once Schluer presents to them in February of next year on the program’s overall citation count and efficacy.
