Red-Light Video Pauses, for Now

Costa Mesa has suspended ticketing motorists who are caught by video cameras running red lights at three intersections because a judge ruled that the city had failed to implement a grace period when the cameras were introduced in 2003.

The cameras, which capture images of red-light violators, will be used to generate only warnings until March 12.

The affected cameras are at Newport Boulevard and 17th Street, Newport Boulevard and 19th Street, and Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard.

The ruling stems from Thomas Fischetti’s appeal of a red-light ticket he got last year.

An opinion written by Orange County Superior Court Judge Charles Margines sided with Fischetti and dismissed the citation. He ruled that the city had failed to implement a 30-day grace period for each camera system installed at each new location.

City Atty. Kimberly Hall Barlow said she believed the court’s ruling was flawed.

State law requires a 30-day grace period only for the first camera system installed in the city, she said, rather than for each camera system. Barlow said she believed it was unlikely that people already convicted of running a red light on the evidence of the cameras could have their cases reversed. But some judges could void tickets in pending cases from the three intersections if Margines’ opinion stands, she said.

In the meantime, Barlow said she and the city manager had decided to comply with the court’s ruling as a precaution, which includes placing legal notices that the cameras are installed at each location and issuing only warnings at the three intersections for 30 days.

The Costa Mesa City Council is scheduled to decide Feb. 22 whether to contest the court’s decision.

The ruling does not apply to the camera at Harbor Boulevard and Adams Avenue, for which a grace period was implemented.

Accidents at the monitored locations have decreased from between 20% and 80% since the cameras were installed, said Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Rich Allum, while accidents have increased citywide by 8%.

The city issues about 700 red-light tickets monthly from its four camera-monitored intersections. The tickets carry a $336 fine.