Links
California Vehicle Code
San Jose Department of Transportation's NASCOP Web Site
San Jose Department of Transportation's Traffic Calming Web Site
I believe this is a brochure of the system made by Redflex
currently in use by San Jose's NASCOP (if anyone knows
differently please email me). The van pictured inside
the brochure looks very similar, if not the same, as
the vans used by San Jose.
Here is a staff report issued by the City of
Belmont, CA. It discusses automated red light photo
enforcement and the use of it by the city. However,
they do mention the use of automated speed photo
enforcement. What is interesting is the report admits
there is no state law that allows the use of photo
radar to enforce the California Vehicle Code and then
goes on to discuss San Jose's use of it under the
NASCOP program.
A critique of the use of photo radar and
its flaws on the National Motorists Association. The
author's argument is that if radar is improperly used,
the result could be what is called as "cosine error"
and thereby created inaccurate measurements. The
author states the angle in which radar is used must be
exact or else the measurements will be off. He goes on
to describe an incident that involved him in which the
street he was traveling on goes from a 3 lane road to
a 2 lane road very much like the portion of Minnesota
Avenue in which NASCOP currently patrols. The
instruction manual for the photo radar system instruct
the technician to park the van parallel to the curb
and that the curb needs to run parallel to the flow of
the traffic. In a situation where the flow bends in
order to conform to a narrower road, the requirement
can not be met and therefore all measurements will be
inaccurate.
Another article on the National Motorists
Association's web site puts forth some arguments
against the use of automated red light enforcement
systems. I believe one of the most compelling
arguments is that there are legit reasons for running
a red light. Although the author states the actual
reasons, he claims there are 7 legitimate reasons for
running a red light. And here's the compelling part:
"Police retain discretion during these instances,
cameras don't.". nascop.com totally agrees. There has
to be legit reasons to have your vehicle travel faster
than the posted speed limit regardless if that limit
is justified by a traffic survey or not.
A press release posted on sense.bc.ca revealing a case in which a
resident of Oakland, CA became upset at the use of
photo radar, challenged her citation, and was found
not guilty. The press release includes a copy of her
motion to dismiss the case.
Highwayrobbery.net is devoted to
automated red light enforcement issues and has good
information concerning red light tickets within
California.