Red-light running motorists are dangerous

Posted 2/14/01

Red-light running motorists are dangerous

Opinion, By Don Heinzman

Red-light running motorists are continuing to endanger the lives of pedestrians and law-abiding motorists.

In Minnesota and nationally the problem is growing and some states are taking more stringent measures to stop drivers from going through red lights.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, running red lights causes 260,000 crashes a year of which 750 are fatal.
Some states are increasing the fines and using infra-red cameras to prevent red-light running.
In Minnesota, running a red light is a petty misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200. Up to now, there is no legislation proposed to increase the severity of the offense or to increase the fine.

Using cameras to photo the backs of cars running red lights as detected by radar is being tested. Such use would have to be authorized by the Minnesota Legislature.
Enabling legislation proposed by Sen. Randy Kelly, DFL-St. Paul and Rep. Len Biernat, DFL-Minneapolis, would allow cities to use the technology on a trial period for a year and a half.

More effective than increasing the fines is to use the technology of photo enforcement for a trial period of a year and a half. In a study comparing incidents in Oxnard, CA, and Fairfax, VA in July 1997, the red-light cameras and fines showed a 40 percent reduction in red-light running.

Those opposed to using the photo-enforcement technology contend it is an invasion of privacy and motorists should be tagged only for those offenses the officer sees. Thatís the catch-22, because police departments cannot afford to patrol red-light intersections 24 hours a day seven days a week.

When they do patrol these intersections, it can be effective, In Burnsville, a five-hour saturation conducted in September at busy intersection turned up 28 violations.

While catching red-light runners with a camera device may be detested by some, many law-abiding citizens and unsuspecting motorists would prefer safer intersections where red and green mean what they signal.

The Legislature should look into the issues of increasing the fines and allowing the use of photo enforcement procedures to stop the red-light running lawbreakers.