By Mike Rosenberg
San Mateo County Times
BELMONT, Calif. — During the past three weeks, 240 red-light runners caught on camera have been let off with only a warning. Starting Thursday, they won’t be so lucky.
Belmont police will start fining those caught by red-light cameras while traveling east on Ralston Avenue at El Camino Real, and west on Ralston Avenue at Old County Road. The two red-light cameras are the city’s first.
A contractor installed the cameras on April 27, which launched a 30-day warning period for motorists. In the meantime, the police have been trying to get the word out about their new contraptions by putting up “Red light cameras now operating” electronic signs near the intersections.
The cameras will do the dirty work of catching red-light runners, but a police officer will review each photo before mailing any fines.
The city plans to use revenues from the tickets to pay the $11,740 monthly fee charged by the contractor, Phoenix-based Redflex Traffic Systems. Any profits would help fund other police traffic programs.
Despite the potential for income, police said their main goal is safety.
“I believe that drivers who run red lights are often the same drivers that are speeding through our neighborhoods and cause other traffic issues,” Police Chief Don Mattei said in a statement.
The intersections are tricky to maneuver, which makes enforcement difficult. They are also highly popular 64,000 drivers pass through the intersection of Ralston Avenue and El Camino Real each day.
Mattei added that the cameras would free traffic officers to patrol elsewhere.
City officials approved the cameras in February 2008 after two years of study. They said the extensive research should help them prevent problems that other San Mateo County cities, such as South San Francisco and San Carlos, have experienced recently with red-light cameras.
Copyright 2010 San Jose Mercury News