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Two‑day blitz yields more than 400 citations; council discusses cameras and higher fines
Summary
Police reported a two‑day enforcement blitz that produced more than 400 citations, nearly 200 for red‑light violations, and targeted the top 12 crash‑prone intersections; councilmembers debated red‑light cameras, raising fines and due‑process concerns but took no immediate vote.
Police told the council that a recent two‑day enforcement operation targeting red‑light running produced more than 400 citations and that nearly 200 of those were for red‑light violations.
The department said officers focused enforcement at the 12 intersections with the highest crash counts over the past year to date and worked moving details from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The chief said the operation was successful and the city plans to run the blitz again in the coming weeks.
Traffic officer John explained the department’s citation practice: officers watch the light cycle and issue a citation when a vehicle crosses the stop bar after the light has turned red; police “do not issue citations for running a red light if the light turns red while the vehicle’s in the intersection.” The department emphasized it will not cite in cases it considers questionable and gives officers briefing guidance before operations.
Police read crash counts used to select enforcement sites, led by Airport/University (57 crashes), University/Ziegler (45), University/Old Shell (39), Cottage Hill/Shillinger (36) and several others in the 26–35 crash range. Officers said some collisions attributed to those intersections involve yield‑lane maneuvers, braking errors or distracted driving, including texting while driving.
Councilmembers and staff discussed penalties and automated enforcement. One member proposed raising fines to deter dangerous behavior. Another urged the city to consider red‑light cameras; staff and other councilmembers said cameras have been effective in changing driver behavior in other jurisdictions but that local legislators have shown little appetite to sponsor camera legislation and that early rollout includes due‑process considerations. City staff said those concerns have been handled in other jurisdictions and that camera programs typically use civil fines.
The meeting produced no binding action. Police said they plan to repeat targeted enforcement, and the council asked staff to look at fine comparators in peer cities and to report back on red‑light camera feasibility and legal requirements.
