The full cost of a red-light running ticket is $486. The fine for rolling through a right turn on red without coming to a full stop is $234.

The Red Light Camera Pilot Program is funded through City funds. The City has allocated $733,000 for the one-year pilot program.

Revenues from red light citations are split among the City of San José, County of Santa Clara, and State of California which are all allocated to support various public services within each entity. In addition, a portion of the fines support Santa Clara Superior Court operations and administration related to the program.

Fine amounts for red light violations detected by cameras are the same as fine amounts for a ticket issued by a police officer for the same violation. The base fines are set by the State of California per the California Vehicle Code and each individual County adds additional fees and surcharges. The DMV will be notified of red light violations and a point will be issued on the license of the person receiving the violation.

Vehicle owners have the right to contest citations. The appeals process is through the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

A public outreach campaign began long before the installation of any cameras. Outreach includes a website, multiple town hall meetings and meetings with outside groups, a press announcement, and online updates. Signs will be posted to alert drivers that speed safety cameras are in use in that area.

No, the City is not going to change the speed limit or traffic signal timing due to the red light cameras. Existing traffic signal timing at each intersection is based on the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

• The number of violations issued
• Before and after camera installation analysis:
  • Red-light running incidents
  • Average speed comparison
• Evaluation to City Council with recommendations to terminate, continue, or expand the program

Red light cameras are set up at intersections to monitor vehicles as they approach. If a car enters the intersection after the light has turned red, the camera system activates.

• It captures video footage and also takes several still photos— showing the vehicle entering the intersection on red, the driver's face, and the license plate.
• San Jose Police Department (SJPD) staff reviews the evidence, and if it’s a clear red light violation and there's a positive match between the person driving the vehicle and the vehicle's registered owner, a citation is issued.
• In cases where someone other than the vehicle owner is driving and the driver cannot be identified by SJPD staff through DMV records, a courtesy notice will be issued to the vehicle's registered owner. Courtesy notices are not filed with Santa Clara Superior Court. The courtesy notice will include instructions on filling out an affidavit of non-liability to reassign responsibility of the ticket (for example, if the vehicle was sold to a new owner prior to violation date, the registered owner can identify the driver, or the vehicle is a rental/leasing company/work car and owner of the vehicle can identify the driver).

SJPD will then review information from the affidavit, conduct additional research to confirm identity, and send a citation to the correct driver if the named person matches the picture. If SJPD still cannot make a determination, the citation is discarded.

Red light cameras have a sensor that tracks the vehicle in relation to the signal phasing. If a vehicle crosses the line of demarcation (either stop bar or first pedestrian crosswalk line) after the signal turns red for a through or left-turn movement, it's considered a red light running violation.

To legally turn right on red, a vehicle must come to a full and complete stop behind the stop bar or first pedestrian crosswalk line before making the right. Vehicles must also yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles already in the intersection or approaching from the left. SJPD staff reviews the video footage and makes the final determination on whether it is a confirmed red light running violation.

Most of the cameras visible in the street in San Jose are used to trigger traffic signals and monitor the flow of traffic in real time. They are not used by the Department of Transportation to collect speed data and the video is typically not recorded. Recently the SJPD established a Real-Time Intelligence Center which has access to the feed from approximately 1/3 of our traffic cameras and can use the data to track in-progress crimes and major events. Other cameras in the public right of way include traffic safety and curb management cameras at specific locations and SJPD Automatic License Plate Reader cameras.

The red light camera vendor, Verra Mobility maintains and calibrates the cameras. The Department of Transportation and San Jose Police Department will review the calibration to verify accuracy.

Automated traffic safety cameras are a supplement to traditional policing, not a replacement. Police officers have many responsibilities competing with traffic enforcement, which is evident in the declining staffing of San Jose's Traffic Enforcement Unit over the past two decades. Cameras are a tool that helps enforce safe driving behavior without pulling police officers away from crimes and other emergencies.