Archive of San Carlos Police Department's former red light camera web page http://cityofsancarlos.org/pd/services/traffic/red_light_camera_enforcement/default.asp, as of Oct. 2010. The safety of our community continues to be the highest priority for the San Carlos Police Department. A critical component of our effort in this area is implementing education and enforcement strategies that enhance traffic safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians that use our roadways. As such, the City of San Carlos introduced the Red Light Photo Enforcement program in 2008 to address traffic concerns associated with individuals who run red lights. Through the use of this technology, we strive to prevent accidents and injuries while allowing officers to focus their efforts on emergency calls for service. I invite you to explore our website to learn more about the hazards of red light running and our efforts to eliminate this in our community. Gregory P. Rothaus, Chief of Police [photo of] red light camera at Industrial and Brittan View our Frequently Asked Questions [see below] If you received a red light violation in the mail, follow the instructions on the violation or use Photo Notice On October 22, 2007, the San Carlos City Council passed a resolution adopting the use of a red light photo enforcement program.The first phase of the program was implemented on October 27, 2008 with a 30 day warning period ending November 25th. Red light running is a dangerous form of aggressive driving. Drivers who "run" the red light pose a danger to themselves and to other drivers using public roads. In 2000, approximately 106,000 crashes; 89,000 injuries and 1036 deaths nationwide were attributed to running red lights. Public costs exceeded $7 billion. In a survey performed by Old Dominion University, 55.8 percent of Americans admit to running red lights, and astoundingly 96% percent of drivers were afraid of being hit by a red light runner. The use of automated enforcement provides police departments with an alternative to address the increasing problem of red light violations. Although each state specifies its own traffic laws, a red light violation is commonly defined as the front of a vehicle entering the defined boundary of an intersection after the traffic signal changes to the red phase and the vehicle proceeding through the intersection while the signal is red. Red Light Camera Recently, several cities in the United States have begun using automated enforcement in an attempt to reduce red light violations. The goal of the City of San Carlos' Photo Enforcement Program is to improve traffic safety and pedestrian safety in the City by increasing compliance with traffic regulations and by reducing traffic accidents and gridlock caused by red light violators. If you have questions regarding Red Light Enforcement in San Carlos, please call (650) 802-4351. The FAQ Red Light Camera Enforcement - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Search * Does the American Public support the use of red light cameras? * Is the running of red lights a large problem? * What do I do if I receive a violation in the mail? * What is red light running? * What is the penalty for running a red light? * What other countries use red light cameras? * Where are the cameras located? Does the American Public support the use of red light cameras? The large majority of the United States public is in support of red light cameras. A 2000 Institute survey in ten cities — five with cameras and five without — reported that more than 75 percent of drivers supported camera enforcement. A 2002 nationwide survey sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and conducted by the Gallup Organization found that 75 percent of drivers favored the use of red light cameras. A 1996 survey by the Insurance Research Council found that the highest support for red light cameras was in large cities, where 83 percent of respondents supported their use. Is the running of red lights a large problem? A nationwide study of fatal crashes at traffic signals in 1999 and 2000 estimated that 20 percent of the drivers involved failed to obey the signals. In 2005, more than 800 people were killed and an estimated 165,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light running. About half of the deaths in red light running crashes are pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles who are hit by red light runners. What do I do if I receive a violation in the mail? If you received a red light violation in the mail, follow the instructions on the violation. If you have additional questions, you can call the red light photo enforcement hotline at (650)802-4351 or look up your video on: http://photonotice.com The San Carlos City code is SNCSCA. What is red light running? A violation occurs when a motorist enters an intersection after the signal light has turned red for their direction of travel. This is a violation of 21453(a) of the California Vehicle Code. What is the penalty for running a red light? The penalty for a convicted red light violation is one point on your driving record and a minimum $381 fine. Traffic school might be an option for those who meet the court requirements, and information can be obtained through the San Mateo County Superior Court at https://www.sanmateocourt.org/traffic . If you have received a red light citation at an intersection equipped with digital video, you can contact Red Light Enforcement in San Carlos, by calling (650)802-4351 or sending an email to redlightphoto@cityofsancarlos.org What other countries use red light cameras? Red light cameras have been used in at least 33 foreign countries since the 1970s.Countries that use red light cameras include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Where are the cameras located? We currently have one camera in the City of San Carlos. It is located at the intersection of Westbound Brittan Avenue at Industrial Road.