The Fresno City Council launched a three-year automated red light camera pilot program in an effort to curb the city\u2019s high number of traffic crash fatalities and injuries.<\/p>\n
The council voted 7-0 on the consent agenda at Thursday\u2019s meeting, instructing city staff to take the next steps in implementing the program, including compiling a list of proposed camera locations, cost estimates and a draft impact report to bring back to the council in 90 days.<\/p>\n
The resolution was brought forward by Council President Nelson Esparza and Councilmember Annalisa Perea, who held a news conference following the vote.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur police officers cannot be at every intersection every minute of every day,\u201d Esparza said. \u201cTechnology can and should help us to enforce our traffic laws so that our officers can focus on responding to emergencies and protecting our neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fresno was ranked the seventh most dangerous city in the country for walking and biking by the nonprofit Smart Growth America<\/a>. Between 2019 and 2023, 846 people were either killed or severely injured in traffic crashes in Fresno, according to the cities Vision Zero Action Plan.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason we are here today is simple; it\u2019s safety for Fresno families,\u201d Perea said.<\/p>\n The red light camera pilot program is possible through the new Senate Bill 720,<\/a> which established statewide requirements for automated red-light enforcement in California that the city must follow.<\/p>\n Instead of trying to capture a photograph of the driver\u2019s face, the automated systems under SB 720 photograph the vehicle\u2019s license plate.<\/p>\n