BILL ANALYSIS Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary 667 (Peace) Hearing Date: 5/24/01 Amended: 5/22/01 Consultant: Anne Maitland Policy Vote: Trans: 12-0 ____________________________________________________________ ___ BILL SUMMARY: SB 667 requires that yellow lights on traffic signals operate at intervals specified in the Caltrans Traffic Manual if the traffic signals are at intersections where red light cameras are used. Fiscal Impact (in thousands) Major Provisions 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 Fund Yellow light intervals 200+ 30-170 General STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense file. It imposes a reimbursable state mandate on those local governments which currently do not follow the Caltrans Traffic Manual standards. The local traffic department must send out personnel to manually re-key the interval length at the controller located at each intersection with an automated enforcement system. The cost estimates shown above are based on mandate reimbursements arising from legislation which required new traffic signals to have two-way traffic signal communication capabilities. The Commission on State Mandates allowed reimbursement a variety of costs, including the direct and indirect costs of labor and supplies for preparing work orders and revising local procedures manuals. Current law authorizes, but does not require, local governments to install automated enforcement systems at intersections. These so-called "red light cameras" take photographs of a vehicle's driver and license plate when a driver ignores a traffic control signal. Caltrans publishes a Traffic Manual which sets standards for traffic control devices. However, local agencies are not required to conform to these standards. This bill requires that the yellow signal on a traffic light in an intersection with automated enforcement systems be regulated according to the Caltrans Traffic Manual. The manual requires that the yellow signal be lit for specified intervals depending on the posted speed limit - e.g., at 25 mph, the yellow signal must be illuminated for 3 seconds, at 45 mph, the interval must be 4.3 seconds. Staff suggests an amendment to allow red light cameras to be installed on or after 1/1/02 only if they meet the yellow light intervals specified in this bill. This change should eliminate a reimbursable mandate for yellow light intervals on new red light camera installations.