City Government
Coppers Use “Manual” Red Light Cams
July 30, 2013 
Just a day after announcing a crackdown on red light runners, Boise coppers cited a driver who allegedly ran a red light and whacked a bicycle hard enough to break the bike frame while causing only scrapes to the rider. The incident happened at Latah and Rose Hill Tuesday morning.
That driver was not caught on video, but coppers announced yesterday they have begun to use officer-operated video to record red light runners. They work in teams with one guy running the camera and a second chasing down the violators. The program sure beats the automatic cameras used in some cities which are seen only as revenue generators.
“We get a huge number of complaints from citizens who say the frequency of red light runners makes them feel less safe on our roadways. Conversely, a number of red light runners say they thought the light was still yellow. We think using video tape to enforce laws as well as educate drivers about their own behavior, our streets will be safer.” said Chief Mike Masterson.
FROM A BPD PRESS RELEASE:
About the extra red light enforcement:
–The effort by Boise officers to manually videotape red light violations has already begun. More than one dozen red light tickets have been written using the new system since mid-July.
–Efforts to videotape red light violations will continue indefinitely in Boise. The practice has been adopted as an ongoing traffic-safety strategy.
–Officers will team up for the red light enforcement effort. One officer will use a hand-held video camera to document the violation, a second officer will radio a description of the violator to a third officer stationed beyond the intersection, who will pull out to make the traffic stop.
Running red lights:
–Boise Police officers wrote 700 citations in 2012 for running red lights.
–While just 6% of crashes in Boise City in 2012 were attributed to red light violations, these crashes often involved more serious injuries due to the broadside collision that occurs.
–Running a red light is a violation of Idaho State Code 49-802(3) that carries a $90 fine.
Let officers know when you see red light violations!
The Boise Police Traffic Unit will continue to respond to citizen input on where traffic violations are occurring. To suggest officers patrol a certain area for red light enforcement, email the intersection to [email protected].
To insure more advertising-free Boise Guardian news, please consider financial support.
Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Jul 30, 2013, 5:40 pm
I agree with using real cops to stop crime and dangerous behavior/driving. The automatic cameras used in some places have been set to catch innocent people driving carefully… often by making the yellow cycle shorter and/or sending a ticket to any license plate visible in the photo frame… even if the car is stopped/stopping at the light.
However, I’m guessing that team Dave wants to use an automatic system and this is just an experiment.
Those in the Statehouse, the time is now to pass a law against automatic tickets.
Jul 30, 2013, 6:10 pm
Officer standing on a corner. Takes videos of red light runners. Send them a ticket. A few weeks of hardcore enforcement every few months would end the problem in short order.
What ? no offense for hitting a cyclist ? what does it take ? another death ?
Jul 30, 2013, 6:43 pm
Do we need to get agents as well as licences before we drive, now?
Jul 31, 2013, 12:58 pm
I like the idea of enforcing people running red lights. Now how can we get them to inforce this law?
1. http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title49/T49CH9SECT49-937.htm
TITLE 49
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9
VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
Sec 49-937
(3) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or a motorcycle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise of the vehicle or motorcycle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle by the manufacturer.
(5) No person shall sell, offer for sale, or install any noise suppressing system or device which will produce excessive or unusual noise.
And this from Sec 49-106(7) “Excessive” or “unusual noise” means any sound made by a passenger motor vehicle or a motorcycle at any time under any condition of grade, speed, acceleration or deceleration, which exceeds ninety-two (92) decibels, or any lower decibel level that is fixed by law or rules adopted by the board of health and welfare, on the “A” scale of a general radio company No. 1551-B sound level meter, or equivalent, stationed at a distance of not less than twenty (20) feet to the side of a vehicle or motorcycle as the vehicle or motorcycle passes the sound meter or is stationed not less than twenty (20) feet from a stationary motor or engine.
Aug 1, 2013, 11:33 am
Red-light running is way more dangerous than speeding and they should concentrate on that.
Use of automatic cameras and computers to mail tickets is just too Orwellian. Having real cops hand out tickets is a jobs program.