Encinitas' Mobility & Traffic Safety Commission has thrown its weight behind bringing back red-light cameras, voting yesterday to recommend that the City Council revive the controversial program after wrenching testimony from families who have lost loved ones at busy intersections. The motion passed with five commissioners in favor and one abstaining, with supporters stressing that the goal is to stop dangerous red-light running, not to pad city coffers.
Commission Vote And Family Testimony
At the meeting, Bridget Chalekian, whose 12-year-old son Emery was fatally struck by a driver who ran a red light, urged commissioners to act. She told the panel, "She did everything right: She followed the law, she trusted the system that was supposed to protect pedestrians, and that system failed her," as reported by NBC 7 San Diego. Emery's death was earlier reported in April 2025 by The Coast News. After public comment, the commission voted to send its recommendation on red-light cameras to the City Council.
State Law And The Proposal
Advocates say any new camera program would be designed to comply with California's automated enforcement law and would focus on plate-only imagery, with an administrative process for people who want to contest notices. SB-720 sets an initial 100 dollar civil penalty for a first automated-enforcement violation and increases penalties for repeat violations, while requiring notices, an initial review, and the right to an administrative hearing. As laid out in California Legislature records, the bill spells out the plate-only capture requirement and the fine schedule.
Opposition Cites Collision Trends
Some speakers were far from convinced that cameras are the answer. Former Carlsbad traffic commissioner Steve Linke told the panel that, at the intersections in question, total collisions dropped about 48 percent after the city's previous cameras were removed, with people injured down roughly 38 percent and rear-end collisions down about 69 percent. Local reporting also notes that Encinitas ended its contract with vendor Redflex in May 2020 after complaints about transparency and fines. The hearing and Linke's figures were reported by NBC 7 San Diego, and the program background was detailed by The Coast News.
What's Next
The commission's recommendation now heads to the City Council, which can adopt it as is, modify it, or reject it outright. If the council opts to move forward, staff and commissioners will have to identify priority intersections, select vendors, and draft clear rules for how the system will operate and how drivers can appeal citations. Supporters say they want strong public safeguards and meaningful community input in place before any cameras begin issuing tickets.
Legal And Practical Questions
SB-720 treats these notices as civil penalties rather than criminal tickets and requires procedural protections, including a 30-day warning period before fines begin and options for indigent defendants, such as reduced penalties or diversion. The law also requires that cameras be angled to capture rear license plates only and sets rules for notice timing, equipment calibration, and appeals. For the full statutory language and procedural details, see the California Legislature.
