Red Light Running Program

The City's red light cameras are managed by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Over 4000 collisions occur on the streets of Sacramento annually. Of those collisions, more than 50 percent occur at traffic signals. Half of those collisions result in injuries.

Traffic signals are designed to reduce motor vehicle crashes at intersections by separating conflicting traffic movements. Compliance with the signal indications is essential for safe and efficient traffic movement, and noncompliance contributes substantially to urban motor vehicle crashes.

Motorists are more likely to be injured in crashes involving red light running than in other types of urban crashes. A study of police-reported crashes in four U.S. cities indicates occupant injuries occurred in 45 percent of the red light running crashes, compared with 30 percent of other crash types. This indicates that reductions in red light running crashes would be especially beneficial in reducing urban crash losses.

Red light cameras increasingly are being used to help communities enforce traffic laws by automatically photographing vehicles whose drivers deliberately run red lights. A red light camera system is connected to the traffic signal system and to sensors buried in the pavement at the crosswalk or stop line. The camera system continuously monitors the traffic signal, and the camera is triggered when any vehicle passes over the sensors faster than a preset minimum speed and at a specified elapsed time after the signal has turned red. A second photograph is taken that shows the violator in the intersection. The camera records the date, time of day, time elapsed since the beginning of the red signal, and the speed of the vehicle. The use of a flash produces clear images under a wide range of light and weather conditions. Upon review of photographic evidence and depending on state law requirements, tickets are issued by mail to either vehicle owners or to drivers at the time of the offenses.

There are eleven intersections that currently have red light running cameras in operation:

• Mack Road & La Mancha Way/Valley Hi Drive
• El Camino Avenue & Evergreen Street
• Howe Avenue & Fair Oaks Boulevard
• Mack Road & Center Parkway
• Exposition Boulevard & Ethan Way
• Broadway & 21st Street
• Folsom Boulevard & Howe Avenue/Power Inn Road
• Arden Way & Challenge Way
• 5th Street & I Street
• 16th Street & W Street
• Alhambra Boulevard & J Street

Contact us for more information.

Citation and Court Information

916-876-6643 General Information
916-875-7800 Court Information

Public hours of operation:
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday, except holidays