BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 667|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 667
Author: Peace (D), et al
Amended: 8/28/01
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE : 12-0, 5/15/01
AYES: Murray, McClintock, Brulte, Costa, Dunn, Figueroa,
Karnette, Monteith, Romero, Scott, Soto, Torlakson
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 13-0, 5/31/01
AYES: Alpert, Battin, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Johannessen,
Johnson, Karnette, McPherson, Murray, Perata, Poochigian,
Speier
SENATE FLOOR : 40-0, 6/6/01
AYES: Ackerman, Alarcon, Alpert, Battin, Bowen, Brulte,
Burton, Chesbro, Costa, Dunn, Escutia, Figueroa, Haynes,
Johannessen, Johnson, Karnette, Knight, Kuehl, Machado,
Margett, McClintock, McPherson, Monteith, Morrow, Murray,
O'Connell, Oller, Ortiz, Peace, Perata, Polanco,
Poochigian, Romero, Scott, Sher, Soto, Speier, Torlakson,
Vasconcellos, Vincent
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 8/31/01 (Passed on Consent)
SUBJECT : Automated enforcement system
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires yellow light change intervals
at intersections at which there is an automated enforcement
CONTINUED
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system. The change intervals would be established in
accordance with the Traffic Manual of the Department of
Transportation.
Assembly amendments add clarifying language that requires
confidentiality from the Department of Motor Vehicles
relative to enforcement of the provision of the bill and
add co-authors.
ANALYSIS : Existing law provides for the orderly and safe
flow of traffic through the use of various traffic control
devices, signs and signals, etc. Singularly or
sequentially, green, yellow and red lights are used to
indicate to drivers when they are to proceed, slow or stop,
respectively.
Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to
adopt rules and regulations prescribing uniform standards
and specifications for all official traffic control
devices. Only those traffic control devices conforming to
the department's standards and specifications are allowed
to be placed upon a public street or highway.
This bill requires, at each intersection at which there is
an automated enforcement system in operation, minimum
yellow light change intervals established in accordance
with the Traffic Manual of the Department of
Transportation.
This bill provides that, for purposes of this bill only,
any confidential information obtained from the Department
of Motor Vehicles for the administration or enforcement of
this article must be held confidential, and may not be used
for any other purpose.
The bill adds cross-referencing language.
Background
Existing law defines an "automated enforcement system" as a
photographic system operated by a governmental agency, in
cooperation with a law enforcement agency, designed to
obtain a clear photograph of a vehicle's license plate and
the driver of the vehicle when a driver ignores an official
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traffic control signal or a rail transit signal or crossing
gate. The system is one which photographs red light
runners or those who ignore railroad grade crossing
signals.
The author states that despite the fact that the Department
of Transportation is responsible for developing
specifications for official traffic control devices, there
are no required or codified standards for the timing
intervals for yellow lights. The author notes that the
department has issued suggested yellow light change
intervals as part of its Traffic Manual. Because adherence
to the department's standards is not required, however,
local agency traffic engineers and officials may determine
the specific length of a yellow light, with the effect that
such timing intervals vary from city to city and from
intersection to intersection.
The author notes that at a subject matter hearing of the
Senate Privacy Committee on automated traffic enforcement
systems, testimony was provided that at some intersections
with red light cameras (San Diego in particular), the
yellow light interval is too short, and shorter than the
department's suggested standards, so that motorists
encounter the equivalent of a red light speed trap. The
hearing examined the issue of red light cameras in general,
including issues of privacy, the handling of photographic
evidence of red light violations, processing of traffic
citations, reliability standards, etc., but those matters
are not addressed in this bill in its current form.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2001-02 2002-03
2003-04 Fund
Yellow light intervals 200+
30-170 General
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/31/01)
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Automobile Club of Southern California
California State Automobile Association
Peace Officers Research Association of California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : The California State Automobile
Association (CSAA) states that this bill codifies specified
minimum time interval requirements for yellow-lighted left
turn traffic signals at intersections that utilize an
Automated Enforcement System (AES).
CSAA recognizes that an AES, such as a red light violation
camera, can perform critically important enforcement
functions and promote traffic safety. In instances where
an AES is utilized, certain safeguards must be in place to
assure that due process and privacy rights of the motoring
public are protected. Such safeguards include, but are not
limited to, the use of AES technology to promote traffic
safety rather than to generate revenue for government or
technology vendors and assurance that traffic signals at
AES sites comply with all applicable traffic-engineering
principals and standards. SB 667 addresses important due
process safeguards.
RJG:sl 8/31/01 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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