If a remedy Manteca's City Council is looking at Monday night were in place, the red-light running would have cost all of those motorists at least a combined $71,273.

The council is pondering whether to seek requests from firms to provide red-light violation camera enforcement services. Red light running tickets typically start at $271. In Modesto where they use the traffic light cameras, the fine is $360.

Police Chief Charlie Halford noted in a report to the City Council that the department receives numerous complaints each week about red light violations. The chief noted that the department's three motorcycle officers do monitor the intersections but can't be everywhere at one time.

The chief also added many of the intersections are difficult to monitor. It is often problematic, according to the chief, to safely catch up to the offender and safely make the traffic stop.

Halford is recommending that three intersections — Yosemite at Main, Yosemite at Union, and Union at Northgate — be considered as candidates for the red light cameras. They would be the ones he'd want targeted if the council during Monday's 7 p.m. meeting at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St., ends up directing staff to develop and issue a request for proposals to install red light cameras.

Halford emphasized the goal is to reduce red light running which in turns reduces accidents and make sit easier for pedestrians and motorists to travel through intersections.

The systems such as the ones operated by Redflex in Modesto and Stockton uses a digital still camera and a digital video camera. A still photo of the driver and vehicle is recorded when the violation occurs. The video takes shots six seconds before and six second after the violation occurs.

The information is sent to the police department. The department determines if a violation has occurred. If it has, the driver is identified and a ticket mailed to the driver in the photo. The mailing includes how to view the video of the violation on the website set up by whoever has the Manteca contract.

Contracts with firms such as Redflex guarantee the cities they work with that during the contract the worst that can happen is the city is assured of a revenue-neutral financial position. In other words, if enough tickets aren't issued to raise revenue that meets the flat charge each month, the city isn't responsible for the difference. The city is prohibited by law from assuring a red light violation company of a set percentage of each ticket.

Numerous Internet sites established by disgruntled motorists who have received tickets from red light violation cameras routinely post commentary and information they believe demonstrate the system is illegal and doesn't function properly.

One such site, www.highwayrobbery.net, has even posted information they believe shows Modesto's red light camera systems are unfair and are only in place to generate revenue.

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