Photo-Red-Light Intersections Redux

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department announced the reactivation of ten intersections equipped with new Photo-Red-Light (PRL) monitoring systems, which record car license plates that run red lights. Twenty-two additional intersections will be outfitted in the near future.

In June 2005, the City’s contract with Affiliated Computer Services was not renewed after 20 percent of captured violations were dismissed in court due to lack of clear evidence to prove the violation.

In November 2005, the City Council approved the contract with a new vendor, Nestor Traffic Systems. The new system will be an improvement over the former system. The dual-digital video camera system will record violators as they approach and travel through an intersection, after the light has changed to red. The license plate will be photographed from the front and rear.

It is the addition of the rear-facing camera that officers anticipate will increase the likelihood of convictions as it will record the signal light and document the distance the violator was behind the limit line the moment the light turned red.

The digital video system will record 30 still frames per second for each violation, allowing a greater opportunity to get a clear photograph of the driver.

The new system has added features like the ability to monitor and adjust the equipment remotely via a satellite. It will also provide live photographs from the intersection during a breaking emergency.

The LAPD and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation will monitor the new system and analyze the results before deciding where to place the remaining 22 systems.

A sergeant and four officers will be assigned full time to administer the program. They will use a laptop computer in court to present the digital evidence during disputed cases.

Media inquiries regarding this system may be referred to Sergeant Matthew MacWillie, Traffic Coordination Section, at 213-847-1630.

List of the current and former photo-red-light intersections [PDF]