Oakland's ticket-issuing speed cameras slowing down drivers, city says
Oaklands ticket-issuing speed cameras slowing down drivers, city says
Oaklands speed cameras at 18 locations across the city are slowing drivers - especially if they get violations in the mail, city says
OAKLAND, Calif. - The city of Oakland says its ticket-issuing speed cameras are doing their job to slow down drivers.
The corner of 73rd and Krause avenues in East Oakland — Ground Zero for the most violations caught by the cameras, average 250 violations a day.
Driver behavior changing, city says
What they're saying:
Across Oakland, the number of drivers going 11 miles an hour or more over the speed limit dropped by an average of 70% since the cameras were installed in January.
"I feel kind of validated that 58% of citations went to non-Oakland addresses," said Josh Rowan, director of Oakland's Department of Transportation.
"And then the other number that really I was encouraged by was the 51% who only got a single ticket. Clearly it changed their behavior," Rowan said.
Behavior — like barreling down busy 73rd Avenue or reckless maneuvers like the driver of a Chrysler 300 who saw a KTVU crew and briefly swerved toward the camera.
Many residents support cameras
What they're saying:
"There's a lot of traffic and foot traffic and driving in this area, so anything they use that can do it safe," said Gary Ward as he walked along 73rd. He said in a busy city like Oakland, the cameras are much needed.
"Police officers have a lot on their plate already, to put one out here just to regulate traffic when you already have the technology that can do that," Ward said.
Across Oakland, there are 18 locations with speed cameras. They're part of a five-year pilot program that began with a two-month grace period before speeding tickets were mailed to registered owners beginning in March.
The violations from these speed cameras result in civil penalties and are considered infractions that don't result in points against your driving record or registration.
"I honestly feel like the cameras are a good thing, because you wouldn't always expect the cops to stop you right away when you're driving past the speed limit," said Darisela Lobato, 22, as she waited to pick up a child at nearby Markham Elementary School.
Outside the school, a crossing guard kept busy, whistling at cars while shepherding students and parents across the busy street.
One driver blasts technology
The other side:
Crystal Wilson of Richmond said she is dead-set against the cameras. She was waiting to make a turn onto 73rd.
"If the police want to pull you over, they need to pull you over," said Wilson, who's married to an Uber driver who's been busted over and over.
"My husband has gotten four in the mail. We don't even live in Oakland, so you don't even know where the cameras are picking you up at," she said.
Maybe her husband could pick up some of the 98 drivers who got 50 citations or more.
Rowan, the Oakland transportation official said, "So I think we should pool our resources to get Ubers for them, because clearly they don't need to be driving."
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on X @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
The Source: KTVU reporting, city of Oakland.