Encinitas City Council members are moving closer to drafting a policy that could reintroduce red-light cameras at some of the city’s busiest intersections.
After a lengthy discussion during a Wednesday meeting and dozens of speakers both for and against the cameras, councilmembers directed city staff to study the benefits, the cost and potential locations where red-light cameras may be useful.
The city council also directed city staff to analyze Senate Bill 720, which proposes reducing the severity of red-light infractions, lessening the cost of violations and capturing license plates rather than images of drivers.
While most on the council agreed to proceed, Deputy Mayor Jim O’Hara disagreed, saying the data on red-light cameras is already there and shows that they do not change behavior, but prompt drivers to find a way around detection.
O’Hara cautioned about the impacts of introducing mass surveillance tools to Encinitas. He said other tools are available to make the city’s intersections safer.
“The other tools don’t infringe on our rights as Americans,” said O’Hara. “Once you give your rights away, the government doesn’t give them back. Do I think the government is watching me? They’d be real bored if they do. But a lot of people do care. We’ve got to be careful here. If we build a system of mass surveillance, you will be mass surveilled.”
Despite O’Hara’s concerns, the majority of the council voted in favor of studying the cameras, with Mayor Bruce Ehlers asking whether or not the cameras can be used to ticket young e-bike riders who zip through red lights.
City staff will present their findings to the council at an upcoming hearing.
