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Public Safety

Ignoring Red-Light Tickets Not Recommended in SD

Los Angeles officially pulled the plug on its red light cameras today.

City officials dismantled the system after an audit found the city was losing money because the fines were optional.

But that's not the case in San Diego County. Those caught on camera running red lights are issued tickets and the courts follow up.

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Drivers who don't pay the $480 fine will pay one way or another, said Michael Roddy, executive Officer for the San Diego Superior Court.

"We will report the matter to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), so it will appear on the driving record," Roddy said. "We may impose additional monetary sanctions and ultimately we will report the case to collections."

Court officials in San Diego County said they received about 46,000 red-light camera tickets over the last year.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.