The safety of our community continues to be the highest priority for the San Carlos Police Department. A critical component of our effort in this area is implementing education and enforcement strategies that enhance traffic safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians that use our roadways. As such, the City of San Carlos introduced the Red Light Photo Enforcement program in 2008 to address traffic concerns associated with individuals who run red lights. Through the use of this technology, we strive to prevent accidents and injuries while allowing officers to focus their efforts on emergency calls for service. I invite you to explore our website to learn more about the hazards of red light running and our efforts to eliminate this in our community. Gregory P. Rothaus, Chief of Police

View our Frequently Asked Questions

If you received a red light violation in the mail, follow the instructions on the violation or use
Photo Notice

On October 22, 2007, the San Carlos City Council passed a resolution adopting the use of a red light photo enforcement program.The first phase of the program was implemented on October 27, 2008 with a 30 day warning period ending November 25^th.

Red light running is a dangerous form of aggressive driving. Drivers who "run" the red light pose a danger to themselves and to other drivers using public roads.

In 2000, approximately 106,000 crashes; 89,000 injuries and 1036 deaths nationwide were attributed to running red lights. Public costs exceeded $7 billion. In a survey performed by Old Dominion University, 55.8 percent of Americans admit to running red lights, and astoundingly 96% percent of drivers were afraid of being hit by a red light runner.

The use of automated enforcement provides police departments with an alternative to address the increasing problem of red light violations. Although each state specifies its own traffic laws, a red light violation is commonly defined as the front of a vehicle entering the defined boundary of an intersection after the traffic signal changes to the red phase and the vehicle proceeding through the intersection while the signal is red.

Recently, several cities in the United States have begun using automated enforcement in an attempt to reduce red light violations. The goal of the City of San Carlos' Photo Enforcement Program is to improve traffic safety and pedestrian safety in the City by increasing compliance with traffic regulations and by reducing traffic accidents and gridlock caused by red light violators.