Right-turn cameras raking in cash

Thirty-two Los Angeles intersections now have cameras installed to generate traffic tickets and, thus, revenue for the city and the company that runs the cameras. Contrary to the original intent, as Rich Connell reports in the L.A. Times, they catch illegal right turns and crosswalk intrusions much more than they deter dangerous red-light running. Eight in ten tickets generated by the cameras last year were for rolling right turns (which, of course, can be dangerous too.) About $400,000 in monthly revenue comes from the cameras, Connell says, a doubling of the intake that follows in part the City Council raising the fine for illegal right turns to $381 from $156. Councilman Dennis Zine says in the story he'll move to bring the fine down to a level that matches the offense.