Redflex the overly creative cash cow company that contracts to install and operate red light cameras, has had its contract with the city of Santa Ana declared illegal and void. All tickets issued pursuant to the system are to be dismissed.
The Orange County Superior Court held that notice requirements were not met. California law requires the city to make an announcement “at least thirty days prior to the commencement of the enforcement program.” A press conference announcing the cameras was held only twenty-four days prior to the program’s commencement. Instead of providing notice each time the city added an intersection, Santa Ana only made the single announcement with the intention of moving cameras to new intersections within the city limits whenever a particular location failed to generate sufficient revenue. Apparently, the city also re-timed yellow lights to leave drivers with less time to legally traverse the intersection when the light turned to red in an attempt to increase its and Redflex's revenue. In addition, State law requires that red light camera contracts be based on flat rate compensation in order to avoid the type of revenue hijinks attempted by Redflex and Santa Ana. The Court found that the contract violated this law.
[Source: TheTruthAboutCars]
