LTC 017-2013 CMB Red Light Camera MIAMI BEACH R E C "F i \t' =
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER 2013 JAN 17 Pty 1: 55
NO. LTC # 017 -2013 LETTER TO COMMt�I?�I RK'S 0 F F ICE.
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager
DATE: January 15, 2013
SUBJECT: City of Miami Beach Red Light Camera Photo Enforcement
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide information on the Red Light Camera
Photo Enforcement Program, specifically, the enforcement of Right Turn on Red Light
violations.
Since the inception of the Program, on April 15, 2010, approximately 30.8% of the issued Notice
of Violations are for Right Turn on Red pursuant to disregarding the "careful and prudent
criteria" set by Florida State statute. To issue violations under these criteria, violations would
involve excessive speed, failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians in a crosswalk or
oncoming vehicles turning left into the intersection.
The table below depicts the percentage of Right Turn on Red Light violations issued:
Fiscal Year 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012
April 15 to October 1 to October 1 to
September 30, 2010 September 30, 2011 September 30, 2012
Percent of Right
Turn Violations 23.5% 32.6% 36.5%
Total Revenue *See Note $435,764.62 $ 290,515.14
Collected
*Revenue collected for this period is reflected in FY 2010/2011
On December 4, 2012, the Board of Miami Dade County Commissioners passed a resolution
urging municipalities in Miami -Dade County with Red Light Camera Traffic Enforcement
programs to not enforce Right Turn on Red Light violations. If the City of Miami Beach were to
stop enforcing Right Turn on Red Light Camera violations, this would have a significant negative
public safety and financial impact on the program. Although the intent of the Red Light Camera
Photo Enforcement Program is to decrease injuries due to traffic crashes, financial sustainability
of the program is an important consideration. From a financial standpoint alone, during Fiscal
Year 2011/2012 the loss would have been nearly $21,000.
As indicated in the July 30, 2012 Crash Data at Red Light Camera Traffic Intersection Letter to
Commission #197 -2012, the number of crashes at red light camera intersections has declined
since the implementation of the program. This trend is consistent with the recent Florida
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Red Light Camera Program analysis of statewide Red Light
Camera Enforcement programs. Eliminating the enforcement of Right Turn on Red Light
violations would lessen the intended outcome on driver behavior.
KGB /RAM /MNO /MG