Score: -8
(0/0/8)
Sacramento County Grand Jury
• 2014-2015
Red Light Cameras ...timing is Everything
Published: June 09, 2015
4 pages
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 5 findings
F1
Citrus Heights does not uphold its responsibility to operate and monitor its red light camera program.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The CHPD should routinely produce and analyze actual traffic incident data. This information should then be used to judge the effectiveness of the program. This will allow informed decisions such as whether the cameras are placed at intersections that yield the most desired effect.
F2
The CHPD routinely fails to follow its adopted policy and procedures on red light cameras.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Citrus Heights Public Works should set the minimum timing for yellow lights at the minimum standard, in order to trigger the red flashing signal, indicating a problem with the timing.
F3
The accident reduction data used to judge the effectiveness of the program by the CHPD is inconsistent and inaccurate in some instances.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Citrus Heights should assign personnel to conduct an on-site physical timing of the yellow signal lights at each intersection where there is a red light camera. A written maintenance log should be kept. RESPONSES Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05 require that the following officials submit specific responses to the findings and recommendations in this report to the Presiding Judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court by October 1, 2015: • Citrus Heights Chief of Police - Findings 1, 2, 3 and Recommendations 1, 3 • Citrus Heights City Manager - Findings 1, 4, 5 and Recommendations 1, 2, 3 Mail or hand-deliver a hard copy of the response to: Robert C. Hight, Presiding Judge Sacramento County Superior Court 720 9th Street, Department 47 Sacramento, California 95814 In addition, email the response to: Becky Castaneda, Grand Jury Coordinator at [email protected] 39
F4
The City has no process in place to be alerted when the yellow light sequencing falls below the minimum standard set by CA DOT and mandated by the CVC.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Citrus Heights has no reliable process in place to ensure that the timing of the yellow light sequencing is consistent. CHPD performs stopwatch audits of the yellow light sequencing using Redflex video, which is compressed and unreliable. 38
No recommendations for this finding
Agency Responses 4
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
▶
Citrus Heights Police Department
October 01, 2015
•
4 pages
• 5 responses
•
Score: -2
(+0, 0, -2)
View Details ▾
5 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
Citrus Heights does not uphold its responsibility to operate and monitor its red light camera program.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) Traffic Unit Sergeant oversees the daily operations and administrative functions of the Photo Red Light Enforcement Program (PRLEP). As well, the CHPD has two officers assigned to this program to review and process violations on a daily basis, attend annual training related to the operations of photo red light enforcement (i.e. updated case law, new and updated technology, etc.), maintain records involving day-to-day operations of the program, and conduct yearly audits of the records and facilities of RedflexTraffic Systems (the photo red li...
R1
The CHPD should routinely produce and analyze actual traffic incident data. This information should then be used to judge the effectiveness of the program. This will allow informed decisions such as whether the cameras are placed at intersections that yield the most desired effect.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence The CHPD prescribes to an on-going crime reduction and collision reduction model, known as Crime and Traffic in Citrus Heights (CATCH). On a monthly basis the CHPD presents monthly statistics in the area of crime and traffic and openly discusses current trends, as well as identify additional problem solving strategies. While red light camera intersections are not specifically discussed during this meeting, overall collision data is reviewed. As a result of this Grand Jury inquiry, the CHPD will be providing collision data specific to red light camera intersections at this m...
F2
The CHPD routinely fails to follow its adopted policy and procedures on red light cameras.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence The CHPD utilizes Lexipol to "serve as a template for how the Department conducts business, by documenting rules and establishing guides for consistent, efficient, and proper operation" (Citrus Heights Police Department, 2014, Preface). The CHPD Policy 378 establishes the procedures for the PRLEP and consists of five sections (Citrus Heights Police Department, 2014, p. 223-226). As a result of this Grand Jury inquiry, it was discovered that there were two items the CHPD had failed to follow in its Red Light Photo Enforcement policy: 1. Monthly signal light maintenance docum...
F3
The accident reduction data used to judge the effectiveness of the program by the CHPD is inconsistent and inaccurate in some instances.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree All raw data provided to the Grand Jury was compiled from the CHPD's collision database. This database contains all accident reports taken by the CHPD. As such, we are unsure as to what the Grand Jury is referring. However, a City of Citrus Heights Staff Report dated November 8, 2012, was submitted to the Grand Jury which had incomparable data; as the year ranges did not match (pre-camera data was for five years while post-camera data was for four years). In response to this document and to clarify the raw collision data submitted, the CHPD submitted a document showing collisions for ...
R3
Citrus Heights should assign personnel to conduct an on-site physical timing of the yellow signal lights at each intersection where there is a red light camera. A written maintenance log should be kept. RESPONSES Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05 require that the following officials submit specific responses to the findings and recommendations in this report to the Presiding Judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court by October 1, 2015: • Citrus Heights Chief of Police - Findings 1, 2, 3 and...
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Disagree As stated in the
▶
Citrus Heights Police Department
October 01, 2015
•
4 pages
• 5 responses
•
Score: -2
(+0, 0, -2)
View Details ▾
5 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
Citrus Heights does not uphold its responsibility to operate and monitor its red light camera program.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) Traffic Unit Sergeant oversees the daily operations and administrative functions of the Photo Red Light Enforcement Program (PRLEP). As well, the CHPD has two officers assigned to this program to review and process violations on a daily basis, attend annual training related to the operations of photo red light enforcement (i.e. updated case law, new and updated technology, etc.), maintain records involving day-to-day operations of the program, and conduct yearly audits of the records and facilities of RedflexTraffic Systems (the photo red li...
R1
The CHPD should routinely produce and analyze actual traffic incident data. This information should then be used to judge the effectiveness of the program. This will allow informed decisions such as whether the cameras are placed at intersections that yield the most desired effect.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence The CHPD prescribes to an on-going crime reduction and collision reduction model, known as Crime and Traffic in Citrus Heights (CATCH). On a monthly basis the CHPD presents monthly statistics in the area of crime and traffic and openly discusses current trends, as well as identify additional problem solving strategies. While red light camera intersections are not specifically discussed during this meeting, overall collision data is reviewed. As a result of this Grand Jury inquiry, the CHPD will be providing collision data specific to red light camera intersections at this m...
F2
The CHPD routinely fails to follow its adopted policy and procedures on red light cameras.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence The CHPD utilizes Lexipol to "serve as a template for how the Department conducts business, by documenting rules and establishing guides for consistent, efficient, and proper operation" (Citrus Heights Police Department, 2014, Preface). The CHPD Policy 378 establishes the procedures for the PRLEP and consists of five sections (Citrus Heights Police Department, 2014, p. 223-226). As a result of this Grand Jury inquiry, it was discovered that there were two items the CHPD had failed to follow in its Red Light Photo Enforcement policy: 1. Monthly signal light maintenance docum...
F3
The accident reduction data used to judge the effectiveness of the program by the CHPD is inconsistent and inaccurate in some instances.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree All raw data provided to the Grand Jury was compiled from the CHPD's collision database. This database contains all accident reports taken by the CHPD. As such, we are unsure as to what the Grand Jury is referring. However, a City of Citrus Heights Staff Report dated November 8, 2012, was submitted to the Grand Jury which had incomparable data; as the year ranges did not match (pre-camera data was for five years while post-camera data was for four years). In response to this document and to clarify the raw collision data submitted, the CHPD submitted a document showing collisions for ...
R3
Citrus Heights should assign personnel to conduct an on-site physical timing of the yellow signal lights at each intersection where there is a red light camera. A written maintenance log should be kept. RESPONSES Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05 require that the following officials submit specific responses to the findings and recommendations in this report to the Presiding Judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court by October 1, 2015: • Citrus Heights Chief of Police - Findings 1, 2, 3 and...
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Disagree As stated in the
▶
City of Citrus Heights
October 01, 2015
•
5 pages
• 7 responses
•
Score: -2
(+0, 0, -2)
View Details ▾
7 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
Citrus Heights does not uphold its responsibility to operate and monitor its red light camera program.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) Traffic Unit Sergeant oversees the daily operations and administrative functions of the Photo Red Light Enforcement Program (PRLEP). As well, the CHPD has two officers assigned to this program to review and process violations on a daily basis, attend annual training, maintain records involving day-to-day operations of the program, and conduct yearly audits of the records and facilities of Redflex Traffic Systems (the photo red light program vendor). Additionally, CHPD annually reviews, and makes necessary changes to, the already e...
R1
The CHPD should routinely produce and analyze actual traffic incident data. This information should then be used to judge the effectiveness of the program. This will allow informed decisions such as whether the cameras are placed at intersections that yield the most desired effect.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence On a monthly basis the CHPD holds a Crime and Traffic in Citrus Heights (CATCH) meeting. During this meeting, the department's Crime Analyst and Watch Commanders discuss crime and traffic trends. While red light camera intersections are not specifically discussed during this meeting, overall collision data is reviewed. As a result of this Grand Jury inquiry, the CHPD will be providing collision data specific to red light camera intersections at this monthly meeting. As for the second point of placement of red light cameras, the CHPD follows its procedures outlined in Policy...
F2
The CHPD routinely fails to follow its adopted policy and procedures on red light cameras.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
, in People v. Goldsmith (2014), the Supreme Court of California concluded photographs and video taken by Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (ATES) shall be considered an accurate recording of events and does not constitute as hearsay. As well, the Court went further to say a computer system is is by its very nature more accurate than a human witness (People v. Goldsmith, 2014). In conjunction with the Court findings, the officers who review the video captures, can see the potential violations in real time and could conduct stopwatch audits if they deem necessary. Furthermore, these interse...
R2
Citrus Heights Public Works should set the minimum timing for yellow lights at the minimum standard, in order to trigger the red flashing signal, indicating a problem with the timing.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Disagree Refer to the
R3
Citrus Heights should assign personnel to conduct an on-site physical timing of the yellow signal lights at each intersection where there is a red light camera. A written maintenance log should be kept. RESPONSES Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05 require that the following officials submit specific responses to the findings and recommendations in this report to the Presiding Judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court by October 1, 2015: • Citrus Heights Chief of Police - Findings 1, 2, 3 and...
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Disagree As stated in the
F4
The City has no process in place to be alerted when the yellow light sequencing falls below the minimum standard set by CA DOT and mandated by the CVC.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree The California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) states "The minimum yellow change interval for through traffic movement shall be determined by using the 85<sup>th</sup> percentile speed of free-flow traffic rounded up to the next 5 mph increment" (California Department of Transportation, 2014, p. 882). Yet, the City of Citrus Heights intersections with red light camera utilize the 90th percentile resulting in longer yellow change intervals than required by the MUTCD. Prior to the 2012 edition, the MUTCD did not make any recommendations as to the minimum yellow change ...
F5
Citrus Heights has no reliable process in place to ensure that the timing of the yellow light sequencing is consistent. CHPD performs stopwatch audits of the yellow light sequencing using Redflex video, which is compressed and unreliable. 38
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree In People v. Goldsmith (2014), the Supreme Court of California concluded photographs and video taken by Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (ATES) shall be considered an accurate recording of events and does not constitute as hearsay. Furthermore, the Court also stated that a computer system by its very nature is more accurate than a human witness (People v. Goldsmith, 2014). Further, all video recordings received by CHPD officers who review potential red light violations are not compressed. These officers receive and review the full video of the potential violation before issuing a...
▶
City of Citrus Heights
October 01, 2015
•
5 pages
• 7 responses
•
Score: -2
(+0, 0, -2)
View Details ▾
7 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
Citrus Heights does not uphold its responsibility to operate and monitor its red light camera program.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) Traffic Unit Sergeant oversees the daily operations and administrative functions of the Photo Red Light Enforcement Program (PRLEP). As well, the CHPD has two officers assigned to this program to review and process violations on a daily basis, attend annual training, maintain records involving day-to-day operations of the program, and conduct yearly audits of the records and facilities of Redflex Traffic Systems (the photo red light program vendor). Additionally, CHPD annually reviews, and makes necessary changes to, the already e...
R1
The CHPD should routinely produce and analyze actual traffic incident data. This information should then be used to judge the effectiveness of the program. This will allow informed decisions such as whether the cameras are placed at intersections that yield the most desired effect.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Partial Concurrence On a monthly basis the CHPD holds a Crime and Traffic in Citrus Heights (CATCH) meeting. During this meeting, the department's Crime Analyst and Watch Commanders discuss crime and traffic trends. While red light camera intersections are not specifically discussed during this meeting, overall collision data is reviewed. As a result of this Grand Jury inquiry, the CHPD will be providing collision data specific to red light camera intersections at this monthly meeting. As for the second point of placement of red light cameras, the CHPD follows its procedures outlined in Policy...
F2
The CHPD routinely fails to follow its adopted policy and procedures on red light cameras.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
, in People v. Goldsmith (2014), the Supreme Court of California concluded photographs and video taken by Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (ATES) shall be considered an accurate recording of events and does not constitute as hearsay. As well, the Court went further to say a computer system is is by its very nature more accurate than a human witness (People v. Goldsmith, 2014). In conjunction with the Court findings, the officers who review the video captures, can see the potential violations in real time and could conduct stopwatch audits if they deem necessary. Furthermore, these interse...
R2
Citrus Heights Public Works should set the minimum timing for yellow lights at the minimum standard, in order to trigger the red flashing signal, indicating a problem with the timing.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Disagree Refer to the
R3
Citrus Heights should assign personnel to conduct an on-site physical timing of the yellow signal lights at each intersection where there is a red light camera. A written maintenance log should be kept. RESPONSES Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05 require that the following officials submit specific responses to the findings and recommendations in this report to the Presiding Judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court by October 1, 2015: • Citrus Heights Chief of Police - Findings 1, 2, 3 and...
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
Disagree As stated in the
F4
The City has no process in place to be alerted when the yellow light sequencing falls below the minimum standard set by CA DOT and mandated by the CVC.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree The California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) states "The minimum yellow change interval for through traffic movement shall be determined by using the 85<sup>th</sup> percentile speed of free-flow traffic rounded up to the next 5 mph increment" (California Department of Transportation, 2014, p. 882). Yet, the City of Citrus Heights intersections with red light camera utilize the 90th percentile resulting in longer yellow change intervals than required by the MUTCD. Prior to the 2012 edition, the MUTCD did not make any recommendations as to the minimum yellow change ...
F5
Citrus Heights has no reliable process in place to ensure that the timing of the yellow light sequencing is consistent. CHPD performs stopwatch audits of the yellow light sequencing using Redflex video, which is compressed and unreliable. 38
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Disagree In People v. Goldsmith (2014), the Supreme Court of California concluded photographs and video taken by Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (ATES) shall be considered an accurate recording of events and does not constitute as hearsay. Furthermore, the Court also stated that a computer system by its very nature is more accurate than a human witness (People v. Goldsmith, 2014). Further, all video recordings received by CHPD officers who review potential red light violations are not compressed. These officers receive and review the full video of the potential violation before issuing a...