MRCA Docs - Main Page - Red Light Cams

The fine was $100 in 2007. By early 2011 it had risen to $175, but in early 2012 it was reduced to $100. The lower fine will not be applied, retroactively, to pre-reduction tickets.

The photo enforcement at stop signs is by "fixed" (permanently installed) cameras; the speed enforcement, which was canceled before it started, was to be done by mobile units - maybe some recycled from the City of San Jose, which in 2007 was forced to discontinue its RedFlex photo radar program. (For more info about San Jose, see their section, above.)

This table made by highwayrobbery.net, using official reports provided by the MRCA under the California Public Records Act.

[ ] indicates a footnote.
[1] Totals are as provided by the MRCA.
[2] YTD = Year-to-date total.
[3] Un-used columns are to allow for later expansion of MRCA's system.
[4] Except where noted otherwise, the figures given in the table are for the single calendar month indicated.
Any figures in (red) type enclosed in parentheses are what RedFlex calls Total Detections and represent all incidents flashed by the cameras; The Total Detections figures come from the official report entitled RTS Management Report (example) which, beginning in 2013, highwayrobbery.net will be requesting from all cities.
Figures in red type (without parentheses) are what RedFlex calls Total Processed Incidents or Total Violations, and represent Total Detections minus Nonprosecutable incidents.
The figures in black type are citations issued.
Due to time limitations, complete figures have been posted only for selected time periods or cameras. If there is sufficient public interest, the remaining periods or cameras will be posted.
[5] Data was requested on:
[6] The camera enforcement is believed to be in the parks noted. See Set # 2, below, for a location map.
[7] Source data: 12+ months Jul07 - Jul08
[8] Source data: 12 months Aug08 - Jul09
[9] Source data: 1 - 3 month periods, 2008 - 2009
[10] Source data received Jan. 2011
[11] Source data received Jan. 2013

An Aug. 9, 2012 LAWeekly Article revealed that in early 2012 the fine was reduced to $100. I inquired with MRCA staff to find out if the lower fine will be applied, retroactively, to tickets issued prior to the reduction. It will not.

MRCA Docs Set # 3
The Contract

Evidently tired of toiling in obscurity, in March 2007 the MRCA contracted with RedFlex for the installation of two kinds of automated enforcement not permitted by California law (and found nowhere else in California): (1) Photo enforcement at stop signs (illegal because CVC 22450, the usual Code section for a stop sign violation, is not included in CVC 40518, the Code section authorizing the use of a mailed Notice to Appear), and (2) photo enforcement of speed* (illegal because CVC 21455.6 says: "The authorization in Section 21455.5 to use automated enforcement systems does not authorize the use of photo radar for speed enforcement purposes by any jurisdiction").
2006 Staff Report Recommending Signing of Contract - see item V(b) in the report
The MRCA claims that their program is legal:
Feb. 2008 Memo by MRCA's Attorney
Apr. 2008 Informal Opinion by AG

In 2010 two class action suits were filed against the MRCA, and in 2011 there was a decision by the Appellate Division (See the Class Actions page.)

A further illegal provision was found in the contract. The contract's Exhibit D specified* that MRCA would pay RedFlex $20 (fixed cam) or $40 (mobile cam) for each image processed, a blatant violation of the CVC 21455.5(g) prohibition of such "pay-per-ticket" schemes. See Subsection B of Defect # 10.

*In May 2008 the contract was amended to remove the provision for speed
enforcement and to set compensation to RedFlex at a flat rate of $4,400 per
month per camera location. The timing of the amendment coincided with the
failure of SB 1325, a 2008 bill that would have allowed the use of
photo radar throughout California. (In 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 there were legislative efforts to allow photo radar. They failed, but photo radar is an idea that won't go away - a new bill was launched in Mar. 2011. See Legislation.)

In June 2012 the MRCA extended the contract for four years, and got the price down to $3900 per camera for the first two years and $3750 for the remaining two years.

MRCA Docs Set # 4
More Coming

There may be some more MRCA information posted in the next few weeks. Mark your calendar to remind you to come back here and look!

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