BeavertonOregon.gov/Mayor
Photo Red Light Campaign
Background
The Red Light Running Problem
Red light running is one of the most serious traffic problems facing Beaverton residents today. Nationwide, red light running is considered one of the most dangerous behaviors on U.S. roadways. In 2004, more than 900 people were killed and an estimated 168,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light running. About half of the deaths in red light running crashes are pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles who are hit by the red light runners. In a survey conducted in March 2001, red light running ranked as the greatest traffic concern of Beaverton residents. 85% of Beaverton residents responded that they were concerned about drivers not stopping for red lights in their neighborhood or city.
Red light running crashes tend to be among the most common and dangerous of crash types. An Institute (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) study found that, compared with all other types of urban crashes, those involving signal violations are the most likely to cause injuries. Researchers reviewed police reports of crashes in four urban areas during 1990-1991, finding occupant injuries in 45 percent of the crashes involving red light running compared with 30 percent of other types of crashes. The study found that running red lights and other traffic controls is the most common cause of urban crashes.
City of Beaverton Experience Prior to Photo Red Light
The problem of red light running was extremely prevalent in the City of Beaverton prior to the introduction of the photo red light program. In a three–year period from 1995–1997, City of Beaverton police officers issued 55.9% more citations for red light running than in the three-year period from 1992–1994. In 1999, Beaverton police officers spent three hours monitoring one intersection in Beaverton and issued 55 citations for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. Injuries from red light running accidents increased 82% in Beaverton in the three–year period of 1997–1999 compared to 1994–1996. In public opinion survey after survey, Beaverton residents repeatedly named traffic congestion and more traffic control as the top two issues that needed City government response. A review of all of these statistics and more led the City’s elected officials to initiate a Red Light Running Information Campaign.
Why Traditional Enforcement Doesn’t Stop Red Light Runners
Local governments lack sufficient resources to adequately enforce traffic signal laws without photo red light enforcement. The most obvious problem is that police officers cannot be everywhere at once. It is simply impossible for officers to continuously monitor an intersection with the uninterrupted focus of a photo red light camera. Another important consideration is the potential danger associated with police officers following red light runners through heavily congested intersections. The pursuit of red light runners can pose a serious risk for motorists, pedestrians, and police officers. Finally assuming it was feasible to safely enforce an intersection, it would take at least three full-time officers to enforce an intersection for one shift, and this can’t be maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Obviously the cost would exceed the City’s opportunity to responsibly enforce one intersection using traditional methods. Photo red light enforcement is safer, more efficient and cost–effective than traditional methods of intersection enforcement.
Public Information Campaign
Beaverton’s Red Light Running Public Information Campaign
In an effort to reduce red light running in Beaverton, the City initiated a Red Light Running Public Information Campaign in 1999. The City was awarded a grant by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for Fiscal Year 1999. The Chrysler Corporation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) funded the grant with the City of Beaverton contributing additional funds as well. The Campaign was very successful in getting out the “RED MEANS STOP” message in Beaverton.
The Campaign produced many public information materials warning of the dangers associated with running red lights. Examples and a listing of the types of information produced are available below.
- Public Service Announcements (PSA’s)—In December, 1998, the Campaign aired two different PSA’s over a two–week period on Portland area television.
- Direct Mailings/Informational Postcards—The Campaign designed, produced and mailed out more than 180,000 informational postcards to Beaverton residents in four different mailings.
- Informational Handouts—The Campaign produced 5,000 flyers, 2,000 bumper stickers, 5,000 plastic cards, 1,000 balloons with the “RED MEANS STOP” message and contributed several articles to the City of Beaverton Your City Newsletter, delivered to all Beaverton households and businesses.
- Street Signs—The Campaign designed, produced and installed street signs encouraging motorists to stop for red lights. Over 140 signs were installed throughout the City of Beaverton.
- Community Outreach—The Campaign participated in a number of events; including the Taste of Beaverton, Mayor’s Walking Town Meetings and the Beaverton Police Department’s National Night Out to draw public attention to the campaign.
- Targeted Enforcement—The Campaign worked closely with the Beaverton Police Department in the development and implementation of red light targeted enforcement at various Beaverton intersections.
Beaverton’s Red Light Running Coalition
The Campaign also included the efforts of the Red Light Running Coalition which was formed to solicit recommendations to the City on the informational pieces that could be implemented to help inform citizens of the dangers associated with running red lights. The coalition consisted of Beaverton citizen volunteers, elected officials, police officers, community leaders, the Trauma Nurses Talk Tough organization and City staff. Beaverton’s Red Light Running Coalition made several recommendations including the establishment of a red light photo enforcement pilot project in Beaverton.Examples of Red Light Running Campaign Materials
Campaign Slogan: Balloons, stickers, bumper stickers, postcards and many other materials produced by the City contain this image.
Red Light Running Campaign Postcards: Postcards were mailed to every Beaverton household.
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Red Light Running Campaign Street Signs: Signs reminding drivers to drive safely through Beaverton were placed throughout Beaverton neighborhoods.
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Public Support/Program Goals
Beaverton Residents Support Photo Red Light Enforcement
Public acceptance of photo red light enforcement is exceptionally high in the City of Beaverton. Residents consistently favor photo red light enforcement. On average, three out of four Beaverton residents favor photo red light enforcement. Beaverton residents have expressed their continued strong support for photo red light enforcement on repeated citizen surveys.
| March 1999 | Sept 1999 | June 2000 | March 2001 | June 2002 | Nov 2002 | December 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73% | 75% | 76% | 77% | 77% | 75% | 66% |
Beaverton’s Photo Red Light Program Goals
- To increase the safety and quality of life for our citizens by reducing the number of red light running incidents within the City of Beaverton.
- To provide the citizens of Beaverton with a safe, efficient, and cost–effective solution to one of their most prevalent concerns, red light running, and to provide them with the solution they want, photo red light enforcement.
- To continually educate the public to the dangers of red light running and to be sure citizens are aware of the City of Beaverton’s photo red light enforcement program.
- To increase the safety and quality of life for our citizens by reducing the number of accidents and associated injuries from red light violations.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, including citation issuance, delivery and adjudication. Assess the impact on police and court operations as well as the fiscal impact of the program.
Intersections
Beaverton Begins Oregon’s First Photo Red Light Program
The City of Beaverton initiated the first photo red light program in the state of Oregon in January, 2001. Currently there are four active photo red light intersections within the City of Beaverton.
Criteria for Intersection Selection
Beaverton traffic engineers along with the Beaverton Police Department recommended photo red light locations based upon the following factors:
- Accident Statistics;
- Injury Accident Statistics;
- History of Red Light Running Citations at the Location;
- Citizen Complaints; and
- Feasibility and Cost of Installing Red Light Cameras at the Intersection.
The following intersections met the criteria and were selected as Beaverton’s first photo red light intersections.
Photo Red Light Intersections
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Technology
Photo Red Light Technology
The City of Beaverton uses automated enforcement systems to issue citations for red light running violations. The red light camera system is connected to the traffic signal and the camera is only activated when the driver enters the intersection AFTER the light has turned red. The only drivers photographed are those who run the red light. The City uses a digital camera system that must be triggered to photograph drivers.
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Vehicle Before the First Line of the Crosswalk 
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Sensors are buried in the 1st line of the crosswalk to detect red light runners. Drivers must enter the intersection AFTER the light has turned red to be photographed. |
Each offender receives four photographs in the mail. The first photograph shows the vehicle before the crosswalk and clearly shows the red light. The second picture is a close up of the driver’s face to confirm who was driving the vehicle. The third photograph is a close up of the vehicle’s license plate. The final photograph shows the vehicle exiting the intersection so there is no doubt the vehicle ran the red light.
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Vehicle Exiting Intersection 
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Notice the vehicle in the right lane came to a stop at the light but the vehicle in the left lane went through the intersection. |
Offender Profile
Photo Red Light Offender Profile
The typical red light runner in Beaverton is slightly different than the national average. Red light runners throughout the nation tend to be younger, less likely to use seat belts, have poor driving records and are three times more likely to have multiple speeding convictions. In Beaverton, the average age for a red light runner is slightly higher. The majority of red light runners in Beaverton are male. The overwhelming majority of red light runners in Beaverton do not live in the City. Seventy four percent (74%) of the photo red light tickets issued in Beaverton have been to non-Beaverton residents, with the remaining twenty six percent (26%) living in Beaverton.
The majority of Beaverton’s red light offenders live in the state of Oregon (92%). As expected, Washington (4%) and California (1%) each represent a significant number of red light violators in Beaverton. The remaining 3% are spread over the other 47 states.
Males have received the majority of photo red light tickets in Beaverton (57%), versus females (36%) and businesses, non-profits, or government agencies (7%). The majority of red light violators are under 39 years of age.
| Age Group | Percent of Tickets |
|---|---|
| 80 + | 1.2% |
| 79–70 | 2.6% |
| 69–60 | 6.5% |
| 59–50 | 15% |
| 49–40 | 21.9% |
| 39–30 | 25.3% |
| 29–20 | 24% |
| Under 20 | 3.5% |
Photo Red Light Results
The majority of people who receive photo red light tickets in Beaverton are convicted. The conviction rate for photo red light tickets is 74%. The City believes the conviction rate is this high because the standard for issuance is so high and the proof of the violation so clear. The City requires that each violator be sent a copy of each of the photographs taken at the time of the incident so the violator can review the quality of the evidence. The table below outlines the outcomes from tickets issued from January 2001 through December 2005 from Beaverton’s photo red light camera system.
| Outcome of Citation | Number | Percent of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted | 10,785 | 74% |
| Dismissed Certificate of Innocence | 3,065 | 21% |
| Dismissed | 611 | 4% |
| Pending | 138 | 1% |
Reductions in Violations
The City of Beaverton has analyzed the red light running violation data from each of the photo red light intersections. The analysis shows that the City’s photo red light intersections have realized a 39% reduction in violations from the initial year of operation (2001) to the fourth year (2004). This is an amazing reduction that signifies the program is achieving tremendous results. The City has met the number one goal of the program: to increase the safety and quality of life for our citizens by reducing the number of red light running incidents within the City of Beaverton.
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Light Running Violations Detected | 6,297 | 5,536 | 5,383 | 3,844 |
| % Change from Previous Year | –12% | –3% | –29% | |
| % Change from Year 1 | –12% | –15% | –39% |
These reductions in violations show that the program is working effectively to reduce red light running. In a citizen survey conducted in December 2004, Beaverton residents were asked if they thought photo red light enforcement was working well to reduce red light running. The majority of respondents, (60%) answered they thought the program was working well.
Reductions in Accidents
The Beaverton Police Department’s computer aided dispatch (CAD) system tracks accidents at Beaverton intersections that require a police response. This is the best source of information about accidents we have at the photo enforced intersections. The data represents accidents at or near these intersections. It also details the number of injury accidents at or near these intersections. The data suggests there has been a modest reduction in the number of accidents at the photo enforced intersections and a significant reduction in the number of injury accidents. Comparing the first year of the program (2001) to the fourth year (2004) there has been a 10% reduction in the number of accidents and a 67% reduction in the number of injury accidents at the photo enforced intersections.
| Photo Red Light Intersection | 2001 Accid./Injuries | 2002 Accid./Injuries | 2003 Accid./Injuries | 2004 Accid./Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Hills & Walker | 13 / 4 | 23 / 2 | 20 / 4 | 23 / 5 |
| BH & Griffith | 14 / 3 | 7 / 0 | 10 / 3 | 15 / 1 |
| Allen & Lombard | 21 / 3 | 19 / 2 | 16 / 1 | 16 / 0 |
| Scholls & Hall | 44 / 11 | 32 / 2 | 39 / 4 | 29 / 1 |
| TOTAL | 92 / 21 | 81 / 6 | 85 / 12 | 83 / 7 |
| % Change by Year | –12% / –71% | +5% / +100% | –2% / –42% | |
| % Change from Year 1 | –12% / –71% | –8% / –43% | –10% / –67% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Photo Red Light
What if I wasn’t driving my vehicle but the ticket is in my name?
A Certificate of Innocence form (PDF) is mailed with every ticket. This form allows the registered owner to have the citation dismissed if they are not the driver of the vehicle.
If the ticket was issued in the name of a business then a Certificate of Non–Liability form (PDF) should be completed.
How much are photo red light tickets?
Photo red light tickets in Beaverton are $336.
What do I do if I received a ticket?
Drivers who receive photo red light tickets have all of the same rights that come with any traffic violation. Drivers with tickets may choose to pay their citation online, they may appear by mail before their scheduled court date, or they may come into court and speak with a court clerk or a judge. Drivers with photo red light tickets may plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If they plead not guilty a court trial will be scheduled before the judge.
For more information on what to do if you have received a photo red light ticket, visit the Beaverton Municipal Court Web Page at BeavertonOregon.gov/departments/court/payments/onlinepay.aspx.
Can I pay online?
Yes. Drivers with photo red light tickets may pay their fine online. To learn more about the online payment option view the online photo red light payment form.
Has the City shortened the timing of any yellow lights for this program?
No. The timing of all lights in the City of Beaverton has been set by City traffic engineers. Traffic engineers follow established guidelines set by the Institute for Transportation Engineers and adopted by the Federal Highway Administration in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
None of the intersections with photo red light equipment have had the signal timing of the yellow phase shortened prior to the installation of photo red light equipment. The yellow phases have been consistent for several years prior to the installation of photo red light equipment at most intersections. The yellow phases at a couple have actually been lengthened by the City prior to the installation of the camera equipment.
Transportation engineers look at a variety of factors to determine signal timing including the posted speed at the intersection, traffic volumes, the design and engineering of the intersection and the slope among others. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “;Rather signal timing is a complex undertaking without a simple formula applicable to all intersections alike. Motorists approach intersections at different speeds, in a range of vehicle types, in varying weather conditions, etc., signal change intervals are timed to accommodate the range of circumstances”;.
Each of the photo red light intersections in Beaverton not only meets but exceeds national standards for the length of the yellow signal phase.
Beaverton–Hillsdale Highway & Griffith DriveLength of the yellow signal phase Scholarly Publication Approach Speed Length of Yellow Phase (seconds) Northwestern University Traffic Institute 30 mph 3.2 Manual of Traffic Signal Design 30 mph 3.2 Determining Vehicle Signal Change and Clearance Intervals, ITE Up to 35 mph 3.0 - Camera enforcement for through and left–turn traffic on Beaverton–Hillsdale.
- Yellow phase = 3.5 seconds for through movements and 3.5 seconds for left–turn movements.
- Posted speed = 30 mph.
- Camera enforcement for through traffic on Allen Boulevard.
- Yellow phase = 3.5 seconds for through movements.
- Posted speed = 30 mph.
- Camera enforcement for through traffic on Walker Road.
- Yellow phase = 4.0 seconds for through movements.
- Posted speed = 35 mph.
- Camera enforcement for westbound Hall through movement and northbound Scholls Ferry through movement.
- Yellow phase = 4.0 seconds for through movements on both streets.
- Posted speed = 40 mph on Hall and 35 mph on Scholls Ferry Road.
Remember, the photo red light program in Beaverton is about RED lights not yellow. The goal of the program is to increase the safety and quality of life for Beaverton residents by reducing red light running. All of the lights in Beaverton are timed with safety in mind.
What if the light was yellow or green when I first entered the intersection?
Drivers are only ticketed via the camera system for entering the intersection after the light has turned RED. If you enter a photo red light intersection on a green or yellow light you will not be ticketed by the camera system. However, if a Beaverton Police Officer is present and observes a vehicle entering on a yellow light, and the officer believes the driver should have stopped before entering the intersection, then the police officer is authorized to issue a ticket for entering a yellow light.
Can I turn right on a red light at a photo red light intersection?
Yes, but only after bringing your vehicle to a complete stop. Many times drivers who turn right on red lights create hazardous situations for pedestrians attempting to cross the street. Drivers who do not come to a complete stop and do not yield to pedestrians prior to turning right may be ticketed.
Can I be ticketed for other offenses as a result of a photo red light ticket?
No. Drivers who receive photo red light tickets are only cited for the red light violation. The State Legislature has limited cities to ticketing for just the red light offense.
Does a police officer review my ticket?
Yes. Each individual violation is reviewed by a Beaverton Police Officer prior to a citation being issued. A police officer confirms the elements of the violation, confirms the plate is readable, the driver is identifiable, and the officer must actively affirm that the citation be issued.
The City’s vendor may NOT proceed on any violation without the direct authorization of a Beaverton Police Officer. If a defendant pleads not guilty to the violation, the police officer who approved the ticket will be summoned to the court trial. The police officer is required to prove the elements of the violation.
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