BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 667
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 22, 2001

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                              Carole Migden, Chairwoman

                     SB 667 (Peace) - As Amended:  July 20, 2001 

          Policy Committee:                              
          TransportationVote:18-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY
           
          This bill requires, at each roadway intersection at which an  
          automated enforcement system operates (to record and identify  
          red light runners), the minimum yellow light change interval to  
          be established in accordance with the Caltrans Traffic Manual.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor costs, less than $100,000 statewide in FY 2001-02 and  
          $50,000 statewide annually thereafter, to local agencies to  
          comply with the yellow light interval requirement; these costs  
          are reimbursable from the state.  (General Fund)

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale  .  The author believes that some local agencies that  
            have installed automated enforcement systems (a.k.a. red light  
            cameras) have set the yellow light interval at roadway  
            intersections to such a short duration that the intersection  
            turns into a veritable red light trap.  The author argues that  
            the duration of the yellow light should be set at a level that  
            reflects the characteristics and traffic patterns of each  
            individual intersection.  To this end, the bill requires the  
            yellow light duration to be set at levels specified in the  
            Caltrans Traffic Manual.    The current yellow light standards  
            in the Traffic Manual are permissive rather than mandatory.
           
          2)Yellow Light Standards  .  The Caltrans Traffic Manual suggests  
            that the yellow signal light be lit for specified intervals  
            depending on the posted speed limit on the roads that come  
            together at the intersection.  Up to a 25 mph speed light, the  








                                                                  SB 667
                                                                  Page  2

            yellow light interval should be set at 3.1 seconds, while at   
            50 mph, the duration should be 4.7 seconds.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Steve Archibald / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081