2026-09-16 Item 12B Consider Red Light Camera Detection per SB720 - Public Comment — Encinitas City Council, September 16, 2026

From: Jesse Hanwit
To: City Clerk
Subject: Agenda Item 12A. Explore the Applicability of a Red Light Camera Pilot Program per SB 720 in the City of Encinitas. Sept. 9 City Council Meeting
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026 7:55:16 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor and City City Council members. I have never spoken with an Encinitas resident who is not concerned about the safety of our streets. Moving forward on this issue is imperative.

I strongly recommend that the City Council unanimously approve moving forward with studying the costs, effectiveness, and applicability of red light camera detection under SB 720.

At this point, I believe we owe it to our residents to fully explore whether this technology could be an effective tool for improving traffic safety in Encinitas.

Thank you for your consideration.

Jesse Hanwit
687 S. Coast Highway 101 #305
Encinitas CA 92024
From: Aria Grossman
To: Bruce Ehlers; Luke Shaffer; Jim OHara; Joy Lyndes; Marco San Antonio Cc: City Clerk; Laura Keenan; Ian Hembree; Hernandez, Israel Subject: Vision Zero Coalition Support for the Proposed Red-Light Camera Program ( 9/9/26, Agenda Item 12A) Date: Friday, September 4, 2026 12:11:21 PM
Attachments: 2026-09-03 Encinitas Red Light Cameras.pdf CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Good afternoon Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council, We write as members of the Vision Zero Coalition in support of the proposed red-light camera program to be considered at the September 9 City Council meeting. Please find attached our full letter urging your support for the program.

Thank you,
Aria Grossman
---
September 4, 2026
Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council
City of Encinitas
505 South Vulcan Ave
Encinitas, CA 92024
SUBJECT: Vision Zero Coalition Support for the Proposed Red-Light Camera Program
Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council:

On behalf of the undersigned members of the Vision Zero Coalition, we write to strongly encourage you to move forward with implementing a red-light camera program under the SB 720 statute.

1. Red-light cameras are a proven lifesaving tool.

Traffic violence remains at historically high levels. Red light running is a significant cause of fatalities and deaths on our streets, including in our own communities. On April 25, 2025, 12-year-old Emery Chalekian was killed by a reckless red-light runner in Encinitas.

Enforcement of traffic safety laws is critical to achieving zero traffic fatalities. Redlight cameras are a proven solution to permanently reduce reckless driving behavior and prevent senseless tragedies like what happened to Emery.

In New York City, intersections with red light cameras saw a 73 percent decrease in [1]
red light running. These intersections also saw a 65 percent reduction in deadly Tbone crashes and a 49 percent reduction in rear-end collisions.[2] Seattle saw a 50 percent reduction in fatal collisions at intersections with red light cameras.[3] This is sustained behavioral change. In New York, 94 percent of vehicles that received tickets received no more than one or two violations.[4] Seattle saw similar sustained success rates.

2. Red-light cameras can only enforce targeted illegal behavior at authorized intersections.

Unlike other types of camera equipment utilized by public safety agencies, red light cameras only enforce the specific type of illegal behavior they are authorized to combat. These cameras are triggered only when a driver illegally runs a red light, providing direct accountability if and only if an illegal and reckless violation that can result in loss of life is committed. Because the cameras are intended to enforce violations at specific intersections, they do not interact to create an information network that can be used for other purposes.

3. The SB 720 framework improves upon previous red-light camera programs.

The red-light camera program under consideration aligns with the SB 720 framework, a new law passed in 2025 that overhauls the previous red-light camera framework. Key distinctions between SB 720 and the previous red-light camera law include:
·Implementation and Oversight Authority: Under SB 720, Departments of Transportation and Public Works can manage the system, rather than solely police departments.
·
Liability: Ticket liability is placed on the vehicle owner rather than the driver. This limits data retention and improves privacy protections. ·
Privacy: SB 720 has strict privacy rules that prevent facial recognition, secondary use of collected data, requires facial blurring, and limits data retention.
·
Fines: Fines under SB 720 are civil and are subject to an escalating system, starting at $100. The law also provides for alternatives for low-income drivers.

Fines under previous programs were criminal and sat at $490. ·
Driver’s license points: Under SB 720, violations will not result in points against a driver’s record.
·
Use of Funds: Under the SB 720 framework, revenues from the program must be spent on Vision Zero improvements to make streets safer.

4.It’s time to take enforcement of life saving laws seriously.

In 2024, there were 99 traffic fatalities and 197 serious injuries in San Diego County.[5] It is time that we start seriously enforcing our laws that are intended to prevent these tragedies. Emery’s story must not be repeated. Red light cameras are a safe and proven tool to help us prevent deaths like hers.

Sincerely,
Aria Grossman
Policy Manager
Circulate Planning & Policy
Ian Hembree
Advocacy & Community Manager
San Diego County Bike Coalition
Laura Keenan
Co-Founder
Families for Safe Streets San Diego
Israel Hernandez
Associate State Director, Advocacy
AARP California
[1] New York City Department of Transportation, New York City Red Light Camera Program Review 2024 Report (May 2024), available at https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-red-light-camera-program.pdf. [2] Id.
[3] City of Seattle, Traffic Safety Camera Pilot Project Final Evaluation Report (December 2027), available at Red_Light_Study_07.pdf.
[4] [4] New York City Department of Transportation, New York City Red Light Camera Program Review 2024 Report (May 2024), available at https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-red-light-camera-program.pdf. [5] San Diego Association of Governments, Traffic Safety Dashboard, available at https://opendata.sandag.org/stories/s/Traffic-Safety-Dashboard/5f7y-nefe/, last visited September 3, 2026. --
Aria Grossman
Policy Manager
701 B Street, # 1150
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 736-0072
Email: [email protected]
Creating excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods.

September 4, 2026
Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council
City of Encinitas
505 South Vulcan Ave
Encinitas, CA 92024
SUBJECT: Vision Zero Coalition Support for the Proposed Red-Light Camera Program Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council:

On behalf of the undersigned members of the Vision Zero Coalition, we write to strongly encourage you to move forward with implementing a red-light camera program under the SB 720 statute.

1. Red-light cameras are a proven lifesaving tool.

Enforcement of traffic safety laws is critical to achieving zero traffic fatalities. Red-light cameras are a proven solution to permanently reduce reckless driving behavior and prevent senseless tragedies like what happened to Emery.

In New York City, intersections with red light cameras saw a 73 percent decrease in red light running.1 These intersections also saw a 65 percent reduction in deadly T-bone crashes and a 49 percent reduction in rear-end collisions.2 Seattle saw a 50 percent reduction in fatal collisions at intersections with red light cameras.3 This is sustained behavioral change. In New York, 94 percent of vehicles that received tickets received no more than one or two violations.4 Seattle saw similar sustained success rates.

2. Red-light cameras can only enforce targeted illegal behavior at authorized intersections.

1 New York City Department of Transportation, New York City Red Light Camera Program Review 2024 Report (May 2024), available at https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-red-light-camera-program.pdf. 2 Id.
3 City of Seattle, Traffic Safety Camera Pilot Project Final Evaluation Report (December 2027), available at Red_Light_Study_07.pdf.
4 4 New York City Department of Transportation, New York City Red Light Camera Program Review 2024 Report (May 2024), available at https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-red-light-camera-program.pdf.

Creating excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods. 2 providing direct accountability if and only if an illegal and reckless violation that can result in loss of life is committed. Because the cameras are intended to enforce violations at specific intersections, they do not interact to create an information network that can be used for other purposes.

3. The SB 720 framework improves upon previous red-light camera programs.

The red-light camera program under consideration aligns with the SB 720 framework, a new law passed in 2025 that overhauls the previous red-light camera framework. Key distinctions between SB 720 and the previous red-light camera law include:
• Implementation and Oversight Authority: Under SB 720, Departments of Transportation and Public Works can manage the system, rather than solely police departments.
• Liability: Ticket liability is placed on the vehicle owner rather than the driver. This limits data retention and improves privacy protections. • Privacy: SB 720 has strict privacy rules that prevent facial recognition, secondary use of collected data, requires facial blurring, and limits data retention. • Fines: Fines under SB 720 are civil and are subject to an escalating system, starting at $100. The law also provides for alternatives for low-income drivers.

Fines under previous programs were criminal and sat at $490. • Driver’s license points: Under SB 720, violations will not result in points against a driver’s record.
• Use of Funds: Under the SB 720 framework, revenues from the program must be spent on Vision Zero improvements to make streets safer.

4. It’s time to take enforcement of life saving laws seriously.

In 2024, there were 99 traffic fatalities and 197 serious injuries in San Diego County.5It is time that we start seriously enforcing our laws that are intended to prevent these tragedies. Emery’s story must not be repeated. Red light cameras are a safe and proven tool to help us prevent deaths like hers.

Sincerely,
Aria Grossman
Policy Manager
Circulate Planning & Policy
Ian Hembree
Advocacy & Community Manager
San Diego County Bike Coalition

5 San Diego Association of Governments, Traffic Safety Dashboard, available at https://opendata.sandag.org/stories/s/Traffic-Safety-Dashboard/5f7y-nefe/, last visited September 3, 2026.

Laura Keenan
Co-Founder
Families for Safe Streets San Diego
Israel Hernandez
Associate State Director, Advocacy
AARP California
From: James Wang
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12A Red-Light Cameras - yes
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026 2:46:20 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Mayor Ehlers and City Council:

Red-light violations are neither acceptable nor excusable.

While the earlier red-light cameras used by the city raised some objections, they did show that:

1. There are too many red-light violations

2. The majority of violations are by out-of-town motorists, and

3. Red-light cameras significantly reduced their number.

The provisions of SB720 avoid the problems of the previous red-light cameras while still retaining their safety improvements.

Therefore, I strongly urge you to approve the use of red-light cameras per SB720.

Thank you,
James Wang
Cardiff
From: shawn johnson
To: City Clerk
Subject: In support of red light cameras
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 12:06:22 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Hello, I am a resident of Encinitas and in immense support of red light cameras at intersections. Driving has become egregious and we need to slow drivers down and stop people from running red lights. This is preventable. People did not always drive so recklessly and I believe it’s because of our culture of tolerance and lack of accountability.

Thank you for protecting our community,
Shawn Johnson
951 Stratford Dr
Encinitas, Ca 92024
From: J C
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12A
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 4:29:43 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Caution: The sender name (J C) is different from their email address ([email protected]), which may indicate an impersonation attempt. Verify the email's authenticity with the sender using your organization's trusted contact list before replying or taking further action.

Secured by Avanan
Greetings Mayor and Council—
I am writing in support of moving forward with a revised red light camera program under the specifications of SB 720.

It is human nature to gradually blow off unenforced traffic laws, and those who are chronically careless become more so.

Being slapped with a penalty each time a red light is run will curb most peoples’ acquired habit of ignoring traffic lights.

If the renewed presence of traffic light cams encourage compliance with laws designed to ensure public safety, lives
will certainly be saved.

Pretty basic.

Thank you,
J Cannon
Why the Installation of Automated Red Light Cameras is a Bad Idea
Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant—James Madison
There is consideration being given to install automated red light cameras (ARLC’s) once again in Encinitas. The town has sixteen years of experience with ARLC’s from 2004-2020 and it is well-known that the ARLC’S were highly unpopular with a very large segment of Encinitans.

Was this large group of people opposed to the ARLC’s wrong or irrational? What do we actually know about this experience and who is actually right? The main argument given for ARLC’s is that they change driver behavior, and therefore, crashes like the one that tragically took Emery Chelekian’s life, will be prevented. Traffic Engineer Bandegon writes: “During the past 5 years, 80% of the violations were for non-residents and only 20% were for Encinitas residents. Also 99% of the notices were issued to first-time violators and only 1% had multiple such violations on their records which can be considered a measure of effectiveness meaning after being detected by the system and receiving their first notices, most regular redlight violators have not repeated the violation at these locations” (Agenda Report, Traffic and Public Safety Commission, July 23, 2018). That is not adequate support for the idea that ARLC’s are effective at changing driver behavior.

I have reviewed many articles on the effectiveness of ARLC’s and have not found a single article that has any convincing data whatsoever that ARLC’s are effective at changing driver behavior or reducing significantly red light related crashes. Just because some people claim something, repeatedly, does not make it true.

Because Encinitas has 16 years of experience with ARLC’s I felt it would be a good place to start to see if, indeed, they were effective. Steve Linke and I we reviewed Encinitas ARLC intersection crash data, as reported in the CCRS (California Crash Reporting System database). We chose two comparable control intersections which did not have ARLC’s and compared the crash data (Please see the attached report presented by Steve Linke to the MTSC on 2/9/2026). Surprising both of us when we ran the data was the fact that during the 52 month period we reviewed, there was a much larger number of motor vehicle collisions at the ARLC intersections, there was only one severe injury (it occurred in a control intersection during a period of time when the signals were not operating which one must assume was the proximate cause of the crash) and there were insignificant differences in pedestrian or cyclist injuries.

Because of the surprising result Mr. Linke and I obtained, I sent a letter to Chief Engineer Nutter on November 13, 2025, requesting that “the city conduct their own independent analysis , which should serve as critical information to guide any recommendation made at our 2/2026 meeting.” (See second attachment). Chief Engineer Nutter replied in an email dated December 30, 2025: “Hi Ron,
Thanks for resending your below email and getting it to the top of my inbox. I aim to be very responsive; however, receiving 200+ emails a day sometimes one falls through the cracks.

Because this is an item on MTSC’s Work Plan, and not something currently on City staff’s Work Plan, I think it would be best to have this researched, investigated, and discussed by MTSC
Commissioners. If the Commission determines that advising City Council to move forward with such a program, then Council will direct staff investigate further and bring our recommendations forward.

I don’t want this coming off
as though staff do not want to analyze this particular dataset; unfortunately, we are just so inundated with our normal day-to-day workload I don’t have the resources to have staff devote the necessary 8-10 hours for this task without it being a high priority. I appreciate your understanding,
Thanks,
Dan”
Because I was outvoted 6-1 and was the only vote opposing the re-installing of ARLC’s I chose not to spend time trying to convince the MTSC commissioners at that time of the
investigation I felt was necessary to properly evaluate the Encinitas ARLC experience.

In an effort to obtain all the data that Traffic Engineers Bandegan and Magdosku presented to City Council in three reports supporting the use of ARLC’s during 2018 I sent emails requesting the data and received no response as to whether there were files containing their reports. I then did a FOIA request for the City data. Again, nothing. If there are no records being kept of such important data, a prudent person may make the assumption that there is essentially no data.

Proponents of the ARLC’s would have us believe that ARLC’s will change driver behavior, yet, whatever data we are able to retrieve, proves nothing of the sort. Additionally, the limited data we have been able to retrieve in Encinitas (and national studies have corroborated this) show that one can expect increased numbers of collisions when ARLC’s are placed.

Proponents of the ARLC’s would also have us believe that this new pilot study (SB720) is somehow different in terms of influencing driver behavior because it (currently) reads license plates rather than faces, has dramatically reduced fines (half the California population will pay $20 for running a red light and not have it on their driver record), and no longer will affect insurance rates since it will be classified as a civil, rather than criminal offense. Can any reasonable person think that these changes will have a greater, not lesser influence, on causing people not to run red lights?
Which brings me to my final point.

If ARLC’s cannot be shown to change driver behavior and make streets safer, why are they being promoted so ardently by those in Sacramento who are busy trying to change our wonderful beach town into a highly dense city much more reminiscent of the mentioned “beloved Hoboken NJ” (population density 43,000/square mile). By deductive reasoning I am reasonably certain that the main purpose of the ARLC’s is one more piece of surveillance and that this unwritten agenda is what is behind this entire project.

Ron Medak
Olivenhain

From: Justin Linnan
To: Traffic User
Subject: Red Light Cameras
Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 7:03:32 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

I am strongly in favor of red-light cameras. Our streets need to be safer for our children.

Respectfully,
Justin Linnan
1967 N Vulcan Ave
Encinitas CA 92024
From: Steven Anton
To: Traffic User
Subject: Support for Red Light Camera Program - Agenda Item 10A Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 9:00:12 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mobility & Traffic Safety Commission,
I am writing to express my strong support for implementing a red light camera (RLC) program in Encinitas, as outlined in agenda item 10A.

As a resident of Encinitas at 281 Rain Tree Dr, I am deeply concerned about traffic safety in our community, particularly following the tragic loss of 12-year-old Emery Chalekian in April 2025 when a driver ran a red light. This preventable tragedy underscores the urgent need for proven safety measures like red light cameras.

Red light cameras have demonstrated significant safety benefits in cities across the country.

New York City's 2024 report shows that RLC programs achieve three critical outcomes: fewer accidents and deadly collisions at camera-equipped intersections, positive behavior change as drivers learn to stop safely, and strong community support leading to program expansion.

I recognize that Encinitas' previous RLC efforts faced legitimate challenges, including concerns about penalizing safe drivers, ticket costs, vendor integrity, and lack of transparency.

However, Senate Bill 720, effective January 1, 2026, provides a framework to address these issues through clear communication about location selection, public reporting of safety results, and built-in privacy protections.

I believe a well-designed, transparent RLC program can drastically improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists while earning community trust. The technology has proven effective at changing driver behavior and reducing collisions when implemented properly.

I urge the Commission to move forward with developing a red light camera program that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and measurable safety outcomes for our community.

Thank you for your consideration and for your commitment to making Encinitas streets safer for everyone.

Sincerely,
Steven Anton
281 Rain Tree Dr Encinitas, CA 92024
(302) 547-5807
From: Jennay Gunderson
To: Traffic User
Subject: Red Light Cameras
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026 8:16:42 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Respected Members of the Mobility and Traffic Safety Commission with the City of Encinitas, I’m an Encinitas resident and citizen and I’m writing in support of red light cameras for Item 10A on the Agenda for the next MTSC meeting on Monday February 9, 2026.

In honor of young Emery Chalekian and her parents courageous efforts to make Encinitas streets safer, in addition to the real and serious problem of numerous drivers running red lights; I believe we need red light cameras throughout the City of Encinitas.

Personally, I have almost been hit in my van three times in the last year from drivers’ running red lights, and I am scared.

My van bears the bumper sticker given out by Emery’s parents, “SLOW DOWN, STOP ON RED.” I 100% support red light cameras as it will definitely influence drivers’ behavior to stop at red lights.

Thank you so much for your service to the City of Encinitas and its citizens.

Sincerely,
Jennay Gunderson
From: Sierra Tzoore
To: Traffic User
Subject: Public comment - agenda item 10A
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 8:01:33 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

To the members of the Mobility & Traffic Safety Commission:

I'm writing in support of the proposal to reinstate red light cameras in Encinitas (agenda item 10A of the Feb. 9, 2026, commission meeting.)
I live with my family of four in Village Park. I see drivers running red lights daily in Encinitas, often in intersections with high numbers of pedestrian crossings.

Because this law is broken so regularly with so few repercussions, some drivers seem to feel that this is a victimless crime and semi-allowed. But it snarls traffic and I have witnessed multiple near misses, both between cars and cars and pedestrians. Last year, a red light runner caused one child's death in our neighborhood.

Reinstating the red light cameras will send a much-needed signal to residents and visitors that Encinitas takes traffic safety seriously and the laws will be enforced.

Sincerely,
Sierra Tzoore
760-505-1558
From: Steve Linke
To: Traffic User; IT Service Desk
Subject: 2/9/2026 MTSC Item 10A - Red light cameras
Date: Monday, February 9, 2026 12:24:11 AM
Attachments: 2026-02-09 MTSC 10A Red light cameras - Linke.pptx 2026-02-09 MTSC 10A Red light cameras - Linke.pdf
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

IT and Traffic staff:

Please include the attached PDF as a public comment to the traffic commissioners, and please have the attached PPTX available for display during public comment at the meeting.

Thanks so much,
Steve Linke
Red light cameras:

Collision study
Encinitas Mobility and Traffic Safety Commission
2/9/2026
Steve Linke
1 Intersections
• Red light cameras
– ECR/Leucadia Blvd-Olivenhain Rd
– ECR/Encinitas Blvd
• No camera controls
– Garden View Rd/Leucadia Blvd
– Garden View Rd/ECR
2 With-without red light camera
collision study methods
• Collision data currently available through 8/2024 in
state database (CCRS)
• Equal 52-month periods (4-1/3 years)
– With cameras: 1/2016 – 4/2020
– After camera removal: 5/2020 – 8/2024
– Control intersections: no cameras in either period
• Collisions within 50 feet of intersections
3 With-without study of total collisions
4 Control intersections
Red light camera intersections
13 7
18 9
6 9
7 8
Red light camera intersections:

Total collisions and injuries
5 31
24 16
15 Red light camera intersections:

Broadside and rear end collisions
6 Broadsides
Rear Ends
6 10
7 7
13 9
6 4
Red light camera intersections:

Injury level
7 Injury severity With cameras After camera
removal
Complaint of Pain 4 3
Visible 20 11
Severe 0 1*
Fatal 0 0
Total 24 15
*Only collision where traffic signal was non-operational Red light camera intersections:

Injuries to vulnerable users
• With cameras
– 3 bicyclists with visible injuries
• After camera removal
– 1 pedestrian with visible injury
– 1 bicyclist with complaint of pain
8 Trends after removal of red light cameras
• Collisions decreased ~48%
• Injuries decreased ~38%
• Broadside collisions remained about the same
– Broadside injuries decreased
• Rear end collisions decreased ~69%
– Rear end injuries decreased
• Injury severity decreased—both overall and among vulnerable users (pedestrians and bicyclists)
9 Agenda Item Comment Form
If you wish to provide comments regarding an agenda item, you may do so using this form.

All Agenda Item comments received will be provided to the Mayor and Council members and will be included in the meeting record.

To view the current council agenda, please click here.

This form is defined as a public record under the Public Records Act and is therefore subject to public disclosure. **Please note the Agenda Comments Form does not register individuals to speak at City Council Meetings. If you would like to speak at a City Council Meeting, a Request to Speak Slip must be filled out and submitted to the City Clerk at the beginning of the meeting. The Request to Speak Slip are located in the City Council Chambers.** * Full Name
Betsy Smith
* Email
[email protected]
Phone
(614) 207-3562
* Council Meeting Date
02/09/2026
* Agenda Item # and Title
10A MTSC
Please attach or type your comment below.

Comment Attachment (Optional)
**SKIPPED**
Image Attachment (Optional)
**SKIPPED**
Comment
I’m in favor of this proposal. My son River was struck by a car that ran a red light in downtown Encinitas last October. I see a car run a red light nearly every day (no exaggeration) driving Encinitas Boulevard taking my family to school and work. This is a major issue in our small ever growing community. Our children deserve to get to school and activities safely. Page | 1
Encinitas’ Experience with Automated Red Light Cameras
City Engineer Nutter:

At our 11/10/2025 MTSC meeting, Item 10B concerned a possible recommendation to council to implement automated red light enforcement with cameras. This item was continued until our next meeting in 2/2026. Former Carlsbad traffic commissioner Steve Linke submitted a public comment for the item, suggesting conducting a crash study at the intersections that previously had red light cameras, along with control intersections to account for potential confounding factors.

According to the Agenda Report, cameras had been installed at the Encinitas Boulevard and Leucadia Boulevard-Olivenhain Road intersections with El Camino Real, but they were removed as of 5/14/2020. This provides a unique opportunity to compare crashes in the last five-year period with the cameras with a five-year period after their removal.

I asked Mr. Linke to go ahead and do this analysis and suggested two adjacent control intersections on Garden View Road at Leucadia Boulevard and at El Camino Real. He used the state CCRS database to identify crashes that occurred within 50 feet of the four above-described intersections and provided the following table, which shows that crash numbers did not change much at the control intersections. However, in contradiction to safety expectations, crash numbers at the intersections that had cameras reduced by about half after removal of the cameras. Note that there were zero fatalities and a single severe injury among all of the crashes--the remainder being non-severe or property damage only. Also note that these only represent crashes that rose to the level of generating police reports.

While these results are preliminary, and the sample size is relatively small, they suggest that--at best, the cameras do little or nothing to improve safety--and, at worst, they actually appear to decrease crash safety. Accordingly, I would like to request that the city conduct their own independent analyses, which should serve as critical information to guide any recommendation made at our 2/2026 meeting.

Mr. Linke provided the attached Excel file with a list of all of the crashes in the above table.

Sincerely,
Ron Medak
MTSC
From: X X
To: City Clerk
Subject: Subject: Item 12A: Opposition to Red-Light Camera Pilot Program Without Demonstrated Need and Independent Evidence
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 9:49:47 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Encinitas City Councilmembers,
I live in Carlsbad, but I drive in Encinitas frequently and am directly affected by the city’s traffic laws, roadway designs, speed limits, and enforcement policies.

I am writing regarding Item 12A, “Explore the Applicability of a Red Light Camera Pilot Program per SB 720 in the City of Encinitas.” I oppose directing staff to move forward with a red-light camera pilot program at this time.

The staff report describes a process by which Encinitas could eventually select a small number of intersections for automated enforcement.

However, it does not first establish the most important fact: that Encinitas currently has a red-light-running problem of sufficient frequency, severity, and concentration to justify automated enforcement.

The report itself says that a first step “could be” a citywide screening of signalized intersections using collision and traffic data, followed by analysis of red-light-related collisions, collision severity, documented violation frequency, pedestrian and bicycle exposure, approach speeds, traffic volumes, intersection geometry, and previous engineering or enforcement measures.

That analysis should come first.

The City should identify the problem before selecting the enforcement technology.

The current report does not provide current citywide data showing how many injury or fatal collisions are actually caused by red-light violations, whether those collisions are increasing, which intersections account for them, what percentage of signalized-intersection crashes they represent, or whether other engineering remedies would address the underlying causes more effectively.

The historical evidence from Encinitas’s previous camera program also deserves much closer scrutiny before it is used as justification for restarting automated enforcement.

The staff report states that at one former camera location, total collisions declined from an average of 8.7 per year before installation to 4.8 afterward, while red-light-related collisions declined from 2.0 to 0.32 per year. At the second location, total collisions declined from 9.2 to 6.3 and red-light-related collisions from 1.9 to 1.2.

Those numbers sound persuasive when presented by themselves, but a simple before-and-after comparison does not establish that the cameras caused the reduction.

The report does not provide comparable control intersections, exposureadjusted collision rates, statistical significance, traffic-volume changes, changes in signal timing or roadway configuration, changes in enforcement, or analysis of regression to the mean. Without those controls, other changes occurring over the same period cannot be separated from the effect of the cameras themselves.

Significantly, the staff report recommends that any new pilot, where practical, be compared with similar intersections without cameras specifically so that the City can distinguish changes associated with automated enforcement from broader changes in traffic volumes and collision trends.

I agree with that methodology.

But if comparison intersections are necessary to evaluate a future pilot properly, the City should apply the same standard before treating the old program’s uncontrolled before-and-after numbers as evidence that cameras worked.

The report also states that the former system examined nearly one million vehicle movements per month and that approximately 0.05 percent were initially identified as possible red-light violations. That raises another basic question that should be answered with current data: how frequent is dangerous red-light running in Encinitas today, and where is it actually occurring?
SB 720 changes some of the features of the previous system. Penalties are now civil rather than conventional traffic citations, fines are lower, driver’s-license points are not imposed, facial recognition is prohibited, cameras generally photograph the rear license plate, a 60-day warning period is required, and the law imposes privacy, public-review, and revenue restrictions.

Those changes address some objections to the former system. They do not answer the central policy question of whether automated enforcement is necessary or whether it will produce the best overall safety result in Encinitas.

SB 720 also shifts enforcement toward the registered owner based primarily on the vehicle’s license plate rather than identification of the driver. Even with administrative review and appeal procedures, that creates its own fairness concerns and deserves serious public scrutiny.

I also want to address the role that recent tragedies and organized advocacy are playing in this discussion.

Three young people have died in traffic collisions in Encinitas over the past three years: Brodee Champlain-Kingman, Emery Chalekian, and Fin Fadick. Every one of those deaths is heartbreaking. I have genuine compassion for their families, and I understand why parents who have suffered an unimaginable loss would devote themselves to preventing another family from experiencing the same thing.

But compassion and sound public policy are not the same question.

Safe Streets Encinitas was formed following Emery Chalekian’s death, and the organization identifies red-light cameras as its top short-term priority because Emery was killed in a collision involving a red-light violation.

That history understandably explains the organization’s intense focus on red-light cameras. It does not, by itself, establish that automated enforcement is the appropriate policy for the entire City of Encinitas.

The three recent deaths being cited in the broader street-safety discussion also did not arise from identical circumstances. They should not be grouped together as though each one demonstrates a citywide need for red-light cameras. Each collision should be studied on its own facts, and proposed remedies should be tied to demonstrated causes.

Public policy cannot be determined primarily by which constituency has suffered the most painful loss, generated the most sympathetic public attention, or advocated most persistently before the Council. An organized group has every right to petition its government and advocate forcefully for the changes it believes are necessary. But no advocacy organization, however sincere its motives or compelling its story, should effectively set citywide transportation policy without the same rigorous evidentiary scrutiny that would be applied to any other proposal.

These policies affect tens of thousands of residents and road users. They affect public expenditures, enforcement practices, roadway design, privacy, mobility, and the relationship between citizens and their local government.

The Council therefore has an obligation to distinguish empathy for victims and their families from the separate question of whether a particular policy has been demonstrated to be necessary, proportionate, effective, and appropriate for Encinitas.

The proper response to tragedy is not to automatically enact the policy preferred by those closest to the tragedy. It is to investigate what happened, identify the actual causes and patterns, evaluate the evidence, compare possible interventions, and adopt measures that can be independently justified on their merits.

I respectfully ask the Council to make that distinction here. Listen to Safe Streets Encinitas. Listen to the families. Take their concerns seriously. But then subject red-light cameras to exactly the same evidence-based analysis that any other major enforcement proposal deserves.

I support targeted, evidence-based traffic safety measures. If an intersection has a demonstrated red-light-running problem, determine why. Examine yellow-light timing, clearance intervals, signal phasing, visibility, intersection geometry, turn movements, traffic volume, pedestrian and bicycle exposure, and targeted law-enforcement options. Then determine which remedy best addresses the documented cause.

Automated enforcement should not become the starting assumption simply because the technology is now authorized by state law.

I ask the Council NOT to direct staff to develop a red-light camera pilot at this time. Instead, direct staff to first publicly produce:

A citywide analysis identifying intersections with significant red-lightrelated collision histories.

Current red-light violation data based on actual observation or temporary video collection.

Collision rates adjusted for traffic exposure and volume.

Injury and severity data, not simply raw collision counts.

Analysis of alternative engineering and enforcement remedies at each candidate location.

A controlled, independently reviewable analysis of Encinitas’s former camera intersections before, during, and after camera operation.

Comparison with similar Encinitas intersections that did not have cameras.

If the Council nevertheless chooses to investigate a pilot further, any future proposal should establish objective success and failure criteria before enforcement begins. Evaluation should include total collisions, injury severity, red-light-related collisions, rear-end collisions, pedestrian and bicycle conflicts, citation dismissal and appeal rates, costs, revenues, and public complaints. There should also be a defined pilot period and no expansion without a separate public review and Council vote.

I am not asking the City to ignore dangerous intersections. I am asking the City to identify actual problems, determine their causes, compare available remedies, and demonstrate that automated enforcement is the best solution before committing Encinitas to another camera program.
“Consider red light camera use in the city” is a Council work-plan objective. Consideration does not require implementation.

Please do the analysis first.

Sincerely,
David Brown
Carlsbad resident and frequent Encinitas road user
Sent from my iPhone
From: Dennis Kaden
To: City Clerk; Bruce Ehlers; Jim OHara; Joy Lyndes; Luke Shaffer; Marco San Antonio Subject: Sept. 9 Agenda Item 12A - RED_LIGHT CAMERAS
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 11:11:06 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

September 8, 2026
Subject: Agenda Item 12A. Sept. 9 City Council Meeting
Explore the Applicability of a Red Light Camera Pilot Program per SB 720 in the City of Encinitas.

Mayor Ehlers, Council Members O’Hara, Lyndes, Schaffer, and San Antonio, As the City considers a pilot red-light camera program, please include strong language prohibiting any data from being shared with SANDAG or any other public or private organization for the purpose of studying, encouraging or implementing a mileage tax.

This requirement should apply to any organization—including Flock, the Sheriff’s Department, and others who provide cameras, software, hardware, data, maintenance, references, educational studies, related services, whether sold, leased, or provided at no cost.

All information obtained should remain the exclusive property of the City of Encinitas and be used only to support public safety and community well-being.

Thank you for your service to our community.

Regards
Dennis Kaden
1 September 8, 2026
Re: 9/9/2026 Agenda Item 12A: Explore Red Light Camera Pilot Program Encinitas City Council:

SUMMARY
I am not opposed to a pilot red light camera program, and I respect the ci�zens who are advoca�ng for safety improvements. However, here are some points to consider:
• From about 2004 through 2020, Encinitas had red light cameras in opera�on at the intersec�ons of El Camino Real with Leucadia Boulevard/Olivenhain Road and Encinitas Boulevard. However, average annual crashes, including both rear-end and broadside crashes, as well as injuries and injury severity, have all decreased since the removal of the cameras. • A major impetus for the program is the three tragic teen fatali�es that have occurred over the past few years. However, the circumstances of these incidents indicate that a red light camera program is not a countermeasure likely to address the underlying safety issues, which appear to be more related to distracted operators.
• Although staff’s proposed pilot program seems well-designed, given the rarity of crashes and injuries at individual intersec�ons, it is going to be nearly impossible to assess success or failure based on these most relevant endpoints.
• Red light camera programs can be very resource-intensive—both direct costs (monetary) and indirect costs (staff �me). Based on the above points, it may be advisable to focus these resources on approaches that are more likely to achieve the desired goals, including those listed in the city’s Local Roadway Safety Plan, as well as distracted driving enforcement.

DETAILS
Crash frequencies with and without red light cameras in Encinitas From about 2004 to April 2020, Encinitas had red light cameras in opera�on for a subset of the movements at two of its most heavily traveled intersec�ons: (1) El Camino Real with Leucadia Boulevard/Olivenhain Road, and (2) El Camino Real with Encinitas Boulevard. Based on the methods described later, official crash data (SWITRS and CCRS) was used to assess annualized crash and injury frequencies that occurred within 50 feet of 11 intersec�ons along the El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard corridors. The last 9+ year period the camera program was in opera�on (1/2011-4/2020) was compared with a nearly 6-year period a�er inac�va�on/removal of the cameras (5/2020-12/2025).

In the accompanying figure, the two red light camera intersec�ons are designated with red dots, and the other 9 intersec�ons are designated with purple dots (El Camino Real with Garden View Road, Santa Fe Drive, and Manchester Avenue; and Encinitas Boulevard with Vulcan Avenue, Saxony Road, Quail Gardens Drive, Balour Drive, Village Square Drive, and Village Park Way). 2 The percentages adjacent to the dots show the changes in annual overall reported crashes a�er removal of the cameras at each of the intersec�ons.

The two former red light camera intersec�ons experienced well over 50% reduc�ons in average reported crashes per year a�er removal of the cameras. Other intersec�ons that never had cameras generally had rela�vely stable crash numbers or decreased up to about 20% across the same �me periods, but typically not the magnitude decrease seen at the former red light camera intersec�ons. A few showed larger increases.
3 Crash type and injury frequencies with and without red light cameras in Encinitas Looking cumula�vely at just the two intersec�on that had cameras—a�er removal of the cameras:
• Overall crashes decreased 54%
• Rear-end crashes decreased 77%
• Broadside crashes decreased 26%
• Total injuries decreased 45%
• Average injury severity also decreased modestly
Proponents of red light cameras acknowledge that they tend to increase rear-end crashes due to motorists slamming on their brakes when lights turn yellow, and the decrease in rear-end crashes a�er removal of the cameras is consistent with that—with an impressive 77% crash reduc�on. Camera proponents counter the rear-end collision increase with a theore�cal decrease in broadside crashes with cross-traffic, which are arguably more likely to cause injuries and higher injury severity. However, in the case of these Encinitas intersec�ons, broadside crashes, overall injuries, and average injury severity also all decreased a�er removal of the cameras.

Note that, among all of the injuries reported within the 50-foot radii of the two intersec�ons for the en�re 15-year study period, there were no fatali�es and only one severe injury that occurred when the traffic signals were non-opera�onal. The remaining crashes resulted in only minor injuries, complaints of pain, or property damage.

Average reported crashes per year since red light camera removal The average reported crashes per year from 5/2020 through 12/2025 are shown in the following tables for the intersec�ons along the El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard corridors (within a 50-foot radius).

For the most part, there were less than two reported crashes per year and average injuries per year tend to be far less than one:
4 Root cause analysis of three fatali�es
There have been three very tragic fatali�es of teens hit by vehicles over the last few years. It is difficult to conduct root cause analysis of the associated crashes, because details are very difficult to come by.

However, such an analysis is cri�cal, if the city hopes to iden�fy effec�ve countermeasures to reduce the likelihood of similar future incidents.

Westbound El Camino Del Norte pedestrian beacon crosswalk incident The most recent incident appears to have involved a westbound motorist striking a pedestrian on El Camino Del Norte near sunset at a crosswalk equipped with a so-called rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB)—with no traffic signals anywhere near the site. There are several of these RRFBs in Carlsbad, as well, and, from my own personal observa�ons and communica�ons from others, motorists tend not to no�ce them, unfortunately.

In addi�on, in news reports, local residents expressed concerns about blinding sun near sunset at this loca�on. Consistent with that, the image below is from a video taken facing west on the road within a few days of the crash at the same �me of day. The flashing beacons and a crossing pedestrian are barely visible. It is unclear exactly how good the visibility was on the day of the crash, but it is the responsibility of all motorists to drive at a speed that is prudent for the existing conditions (not necessarily the speed limit).

RRFBs are broadly considered to be safety countermeasures for pedestrians and may work in some contexts. However, in the wrong context, I believe that imprudent and/or distracted drivers can lead to RRFBs doing more harm than good—giving pedestrians a false sense of safety through an assump�on that motorist will both see the flashing beacons and understand that they need stop. 5 Given the specific issues at this loca�on and the fact that there are no traffic signals anywhere near it, I think a red light camera program is highly unlikely to address its root cause(s).

Northbound El Camino Real near Santa Fe Drive incident
In another incident, a bicyclist traveling northbound on El Camino Real apparently intended to turn le� using a le�-turn lane onto Santa Fe Drive. This necessitated traveling from the bike lane on the far right across mul�ple high-speed through lanes, and the bicyclist ended up crashing with a truck going in the same direc�on. This incident also did not involve a traffic signal. Either the truck driver or the bicyclist or both apparently did not see each other.

The city has already approved a project that should help encourage bicyclists to use a pedestrian crossing at the traffic signal to proceed westbound on Santa Fe Drive, rather than trying to cross all of the through-lanes, although they are s�ll free to do that if they so choose.

Westbound Encinitas Boulevard traffic signal crosswalk incident The other incident was a westbound motorist on Encinitas Boulevard striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk at the Village Square Drive intersec�on when he had a red light. Given the �me of year and �me of day, sunset glare may also have contributed to this incident, but, again, it is the responsibility of all drivers to drive at a speed that is prudent for the existing conditions.

More importantly, though, according to court records and news accounts of legal hearings, the motorist first hit another vehicle that was stopped at the red light and entered the intersec�on "over six seconds” a�er the light had turned red. The reasons for this incident (beyond possibly profound distrac�on) are unclear, but a red light camera program is unlikely to address problems with motorists running into other motorists at red lights and entering intersec�ons long periods of �me a�er the light turns red.

Again, I am not opposed to a red light program beyond the concern that it could divert resources from approaches that are more likely to help, but there should be no expecta�on that such a program would have altered any of the above three incidents or would influence poten�al future similar incidents.

Staff’s proposed pilot program
The pilot program proposed by staff seems generally very sound and thorough, par�cularly the plan to prospec�vely establish performance measures and test them both before and a�er ac�va�on of cameras. That said, the most meaningful outcomes/endpoints in this type of pilot study are changes in crashes and injuries. However, the vast majority of Encinitas intersec�ons experience less than two reported crashes per year that would be influenced by red light cameras, as evidenced by the above tables, and injuries per year tend to be far less than one.

Given the extreme rarity of crash/injury events, it would likely require an imprac�cal number of study intersec�ons or an imprac�cal study period length to accumulate enough data for those endpoints. 6 Perhaps “red light viola�ons” could be used as a “surrogate endpoint” under the assump�on that they may correlate long-term with crashes and injuries. Perhaps hundreds of viola�on events could accrue.

However, that also could be tricky and would require very careful study design on what cons�tutes a red light viola�on that may reasonably correlate with a crash/injury, and it also could require a prety lengthy “before” period.

Alterna�ve approaches to reduce red light viola�ons
Here are some alterna�ve approaches to help reduce red light viola�ons, many of which are recommenda�ons listed in your Local Roadway Safety Plan:
• Ensure sufficient green �me, turn lanes/pocket lengths, signal coordina�on, etc. to avoid the need to stop for more than one signal cycle at the same intersec�on. • Other signal light �ming approaches: Increase yellow �me, increase red clearance �me, pedestrian lead intervals, signal coordina�on, advanced dilemma zone detec�on. • Increase signal light visibility: Reflec�ve backplates, LED signal lenses, visors/louvers, signal ahead signs/flashers.
• ADDRESS DISTRACTED DRIVING THROUGH ENFORCMENT: According to news reports, Escondido police have conducted mul�ple distracted driving enforcement opera�ons over the past year.

Methods
Official crash data from 1/1/2011 through 2/17/2015 from the state’s SWITRS database was combined with official crash data from 2/18/2015 through 12/31/2025 from the state’s CCRS database. The red light cameras at the two intersec�ons were ac�vated in 2004 to 2005 and were inac�vated as of May 2020. The �me period with opera�onal cameras for this study ran from 1/2011 through 4/2020 (9 years 3 months back to the availability of crash data), and the �me period a�er removal of the cameras ran from 5/2020 through 12/2025 (5 years 9 months from the �me of removal of the cameras). The most recent year or two of CCRS data is considered provisional, but previous years tend not to change much, so 12/2025 was chosen as the cutoff.

Crashes within 250 feet of intersec�ons are o�en considered intersec�on crashes due to areas of influence around intersec�ons. However, for red light camera influence studies, the distance tends to be less. Some prac��oners use 0 feet, while others use 50 feet, and s�ll others use different distances for different crash types (e.g., for rear-ends vs. broadsides). For simplicity, a distance of 50 feet was used for this study.

Unfortunately, no traffic counts were available for this study, which could be a minor confounder. Other possible confounders include vehicle safety improvements, roadway changes other than cameras, etc.

Best regards,
Steve Linke
From: janet nethery
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red Light Camera return vote Wednesday September 9th Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 9:54:56 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

This is the first time you received an email from this sender ([email protected]). Exercise caution when clicking links, opening attachments or taking further action, before validating its authenticity.

Secured by Avanan
To Mayor and City Council Members,
As a resident of Encinitas since 1978 I vote “NO" on the return of Red Light Cameras and hope you wil do the same at Wednesday, September 9th meeting.

Sincerely,
Janet Nethery
438 Delage Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024
7607531122
From: patty.st
To: City Clerk; Peter Weichers
Subject: Please post in comments for tonights meeting for agenda item 12A Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 3:58:27 PM
Attachments: Road safety Sept 2026.docx
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Peter,
Please post my attached letter for 12A for tonight - on red light camera pilot program. thanks so much, also here:

Patty
also here:

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Encinitas Councilmembers,
As a grandmother of children living in Encinitas, and 46 year resident of Encinitas, I am writing to express my deep concern for the safety of our resident children, children visiting Encinitas, and people of all ages in Encinitas, and traveling on our roads either by car, by bicycle, by scooter or on foot.

My first thought about the red light cameras was that I didn’t think they would lessen accidents as cameras do not stop cars. But then after reading the staff report of lessened accidents while the cameras were in place, I thought maybe they are useful.

And then I read Mr. Linke’s report, with charts and data from the SWITRS: (CA Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records) and the CCRS: (Callifornia Crash Reporting System) during the period of the cameras utilized and after they were removed, and now see that there were considerably LESS collision reports in Encinitas AFTER the red light cameras were removed.
( “The last 9+ year period the camera program was in operation (1/2011- 4/2020) was compared with a nearly 6-year period after inactivation/removal of the cameras (5/2020-12/2025).”)
My take on this now is that our driving, biking, walking, safety, needs a multi-pronged approach. And that the Red Light Cameras may be the least effective in reducing accidents on our roads.

Besides the excellent visuals with Mr Linke’s map and charts, I found these points to be helpful clues for moving forward:

Westbound El Camino Del Norte pedestrian beacon crosswalk incident Flashing light crosswalk:—giving pedestrians a false sense of safety through an assumption that motorists will both see the flashing beacons and understand that they need stop.

Northbound El Camino Real near Santa Fe Drive incident
This incident also did not involve a traffic signal. Either the truck driver or the bicyclist or both apparently did not see each other
Then Mr. Linke goes on with some recommendations, and this one I found very interesting:
“• ADDRESS DISTRACTED DRIVING THROUGH ENFORCMENT:

According to news reports, Escondido police have conducted multiple distracted driving enforcement operations over the past year.” I have no idea how they do this, but this seems to be a key factor.

And if distracted driving is more common these days, then I feel education for people of all ages is KEY!
The 2 incidents mentioned above, look to be that the driver did not SEE the pedestrian and the bicyclist.I feel our education – especially in schools, must emphasize not to ASSUME that motor vehicles (being the largest and most dangerous) see them in their car, or bike, or scooter, or on foot.

And educate the reality of distracted drivers, and with that, utmost vigilance and caution is needed when entering a roadway.

I don’t believe that drivers want to purposely run a red light or cause any harm to a pedestrian or bicyclist.

But are people in general more distracted these days?
The saying mentioned at previous council meeting of “Stop, Look, Listen” I feel could be very helpful in the education piece. When a bus comes to a railroad crossing, the bus driver is REQUIRED to “Stop, Look and Listen” before crossing the tracks, even when the cross bar is not down. I have seen anomalies with the train bar going down with no train, the opposite could also be possible, thus the caution that bus drivers employ.

Also needed, it seems like, are things like raised crosswalks, speed cushions before crosswalks, that really do slow cars. And maybe signs that actually report recent fatalities and the need to slow down and use extreme caution on our roads.

Thank you for reading and considering,
Patty Stottlemyer RN, Encinitas
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

From: James West
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red light camera pilot program
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 8:10:54 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

I am writing to express my strong support for a pilot of red light camera in Encinitas. As a resident since prior to Covid, the number of people I see running red lights has drastically increased since 2020.

I believe we need more enforcement to keep our community safe, and that if a red light camera program is properly set up, with fines being used to benefit the community and not a third party, then it has the potential to be effective.

I also urge the council to review current light schedules. While those do not excuse red light running, it is undeniably frustrating to sit in non moving traffic (e.g. Encinitas blvd and highway 5 on ramp) or be stopped frequently for relatively low amounts of side traffic while on a major thoroughfare (e.g. Encinitas blvd and Village Parkway).
1 September 15, 2026
Re: 9/16/2026 Agenda Item 12B: Explore Red Light Camera Pilot Program Encinitas City Council:

The only difference between this comment and the one I submitted last week is the addition of Attachment 1, a list of the SWITRS/CCRS collisions from 2011-2025 at the former red light camera intersections of El Camino Real with Leucadia Boulevard and Encinitas Boulevard.

In the accompanying figure, the two red light camera intersec�ons are designated with red dots, and the other 9 intersec�ons are designated with purple dots (El Camino Real with Garden View Road, Santa Fe 2 Drive, and Manchester Avenue; and Encinitas Boulevard with Vulcan Avenue, Saxony Road, Quail Gardens Drive, Balour Drive, Village Square Drive, and Village Park Way).

The percentages adjacent to the dots show the changes in annual overall reported crashes a�er removal of the cameras at each of the intersec�ons.

Crash type and injury frequencies with and without red light cameras in Encinitas Looking cumula�vely at just the two intersec�on that had cameras—a�er removal of the cameras:
• Overall crashes decreased 54%
• Rear-end crashes decreased 77%
• Broadside crashes decreased 26%
• Total injuries decreased 45%
• Average injury severity also decreased modestly
Proponents of red light cameras acknowledge that they tend to increase rear-end crashes due to motorists slamming on their brakes when lights turn yellow, and the decrease in rear-end crashes a�er removal of the cameras is consistent with that—with an impressive 77% crash reduc�on. Camera proponents counter the rear-end collision increase with a theore�cal decrease in broadside crashes with cross-traffic, which are arguably more likely to cause injuries and higher injury severity. However, in the case of these Encinitas intersec�ons, broadside crashes, overall injuries, and average injury severity also all decreased a�er removal of the cameras.

However, such an analysis is cri�cal, if the city hopes to iden�fy effec�ve countermeasures to reduce the likelihood of similar future incidents.

Best regards,
Steve Linke
7 Atachment 1
Crash Date-Time Primary Road Secondary Road
Secondar
y Dir
Secondar
y Dist ft
SWITRS CASE_ID
5125901 2/14/2011 9:58 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0
5125917 2/20/2011 16:08 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL N 50 5164209 4/13/2011 19:46 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 5230718 5/15/2011 22:04 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 5343720 8/30/2011 22:47 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 5374355 9/23/2011 13:57 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL W 30 5465395 12/5/2011 12:20 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD S 41 5548312 2/11/2012 13:01 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N E 20 5545315 2/15/2012 21:33 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N E 30 5628460 4/5/2012 17:20 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0
5628464 4/6/2012 13:22 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N E 20 5624606 4/9/2012 3:59 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 5628583 4/21/2012 7:45 EL CAMINO REAL, S ENCINITAS BL S 2 5729947 5/29/2012 8:36 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL N 0
5953766 10/5/2012 12:30 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL N 13 5953499 10/5/2012 21:09 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 5966638 11/27/2012 18:19 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 6017458 2/3/2013 6:58 EL CAMINO REAL OLIVENHAIN RD 0
6043675 3/22/2013 7:53 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL W 20
6074123 4/24/2013 12:32 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0 6133193 5/26/2013 23:23 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 6074142 6/21/2013 9:08 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 6185150 7/5/2013 19:33 EL CAMINO REAL, S ENCINITAS BL S 18 6185181 7/25/2013 9:15 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL S 38 6185189 7/27/2013 21:03 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 6214701 8/20/2013 7:15 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL E 28 6312866 9/16/2013 13:29 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL E 40 6317315 10/2/2013 13:46 EL CAMINO REAL, S ENCINITAS BL S 30 6317327 10/9/2013 21:56 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL N 43 6317331 10/12/2013 20:47 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
6329386 11/18/2013 20:49 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 6397075 1/19/2014 20:27 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 6463221 2/6/2014 15:26 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0
6463201 2/7/2014 0:42 EL CAMINO REAL LEUCADIA BL 0
6434021 2/19/2014 16:43 EL CAMINO REAL, S ENCINITAS BL 0 8 6486370 4/26/2014 17:20 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, S W 22 6715329 7/2/2014 18:46 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
6632101 7/7/2014 8:45 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 6632097 7/9/2014 16:14 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
6622179 7/26/2014 11:24 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0 6666650 9/21/2014 12:51 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
6745309 10/29/2014 18:30 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
6749459 11/8/2014 20:10 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
6832049 1/21/2015 7:26 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 6830411 1/27/2015 11:10 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD S 0 6852962 2/11/2015 8:46 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0 CCRS CollisionId
4122759 3/18/2015 14:08 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N E 20 4215048 7/31/2015 8:15 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0
4262685 8/10/2015 19:43 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
3851192 1/29/2016 18:00 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 3848051 4/12/2016 8:40 EL CAMINO REAL, S ENCINITAS BL 0 3916221 7/28/2016 19:35 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL S 27 3967384 10/25/2016 12:37 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0 3537777 1/13/2017 6:30 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3583539 3/1/2017 13:39 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3600550 5/18/2017 8:06 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3704059 9/5/2017 14:01 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3704516 9/24/2017 18:14 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3692114 10/20/2017 18:50 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL 0 3738090 11/21/2017 10:21 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 3752534 12/29/2017 12:32 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, S 0 3347823 3/29/2018 20:44 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3395384 5/10/2018 15:34 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3370968 6/7/2018 10:41 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL 0
3393005 6/27/2018 17:10 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 3463749 9/9/2018 21:29 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0
3463760 9/13/2018 22:30 EL CAMINO REAL ENCINITAS BL S 27 3479386 10/21/2018 19:24 EL CAMINO REAL ENCINITAS BL S 50 3070204 2/9/2019 1:00 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL E 33 3131660 4/11/2019 20:05 EL CAMINO REAL, S ENCINITAS BL 0 3131383 4/16/2019 12:49 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3138649 5/24/2019 21:24 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 3176057 7/8/2019 17:06 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0
3176046 7/13/2019 18:35 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 3173528 8/26/2019 20:15 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL 0
9 3232712 9/19/2019 22:50 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 3238822 10/8/2019 17:40 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 3238885 10/15/2019 17:17 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 3246764 11/13/2019 11:49 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0 3270937 12/21/2019 16:57 EL CAMINO REAL ENCINITAS BL 0
2908056 1/9/2020 9:57 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0
2947138 4/10/2020 23:27 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 2874094 8/1/2021 21:09 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0
2874439 8/5/2021 8:04 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 2874088 8/20/2021 21:34 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
2873751 10/29/2021 13:04 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0 2873061 11/10/2021 16:18 EL CAMINO REAL ENCINITAS BL 0
2873872 12/1/2021 16:42 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL E 47 2873472 12/1/2021 16:44 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL, N E 35 2674943 4/14/2022 22:24 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
2715456 12/27/2022 19:33 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 2514080 1/16/2023 8:30 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL 0
2532082 6/24/2023 23:35 EL CAMINO REAL, N LEUCADIA BL 0 2563009 8/3/2023 10:48 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD S 30 2560308 8/13/2023 14:18 OLIVENHAIN RD EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 2591145 11/8/2023 20:00 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL W 50 2591606 12/28/2023 18:21 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL 0
2454155 1/20/2024 20:58 LEUCADIA BL EL CAMINO REAL, N 0 2475787 4/16/2024 17:08 EL CAMINO REAL LEUCADIA BL S 27 4632504 8/13/2024 5:26 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 5054511 10/3/2024 17:39 EL CAMINO REAL, N OLIVENHAIN RD 0 5050723 10/9/2024 12:25 ENCINITAS BL EL CAMINO REAL E 7 5174066 2/11/2025 20:12 EL CAMINO REAL OLIVENHAIN RD 0
5181595 4/15/2025 11:27 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0 5095632 9/8/2025 9:15 EL CAMINO REAL, N ENCINITAS BL 0
From: Tom Frank
To: Bruce Ehlers; Jim OHara; Marco San Antonio; Luke Shaffer; Joy Lyndes; Jennifer Campbell; City Clerk Cc: Christina Frank; Dan Susie Murray; Leah Austin; Jeannie Lowe; Tom Sortwell; Sandra Watson; Mike Dobransky; Sadie Weinberg; Leigh Ratcliffe; Scott Drapkin; John Chalekian; Shane Watts; Rebekkah@ABC Epstein; Larry Smith; Steve Hoiles; Hollie Ryerson Ryerson Prussack; Elizabeth Hoiles; John Lavry; Mary Lavery; Sarah Brown; Monica Marquez; John Gjata; Kathleen Lees; [email protected]; John Thompson; [email protected]
Subject: September 16, 2026 | City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 12B - Roadway Safety and consider adopting a meaningful Policy as suggested in my comments
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 8:53:14 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Honorable Mayor Ehlers, City Council Members, City Manager, and City Clerk, I was greatly dismayed to see that my public comments were not included as a part of the agenda packet for this agenda item. I would like to understand why this wasn’t automatically done, considering I spent the time to provide meaningful comments to improve road safety in our community.

With that said, I respectfully request that you include my public comments for improving road safety in Encinitas as a part of this agenda item and more importantly, consider approving the recommended policy explained in my comments.

I would be presenting these comments to City Council at the meeting, however, I am unable to attend.

I hope you have a productive meeting and look forward to reviewing the results.

Thomas Frank, P.E.

Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 26, 2026, at 3:43 PM, Tom Frank <[email protected]> wrote:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY– ROAD SAFETY & ALCOHOL OVERSATURATION Thank you, Mayor Ehlers and Council Members for prioritizing road safety and community character—issues directly interconnected.

THE CORE PROBLEM:

Three factors drive serious injuries and fatalities: DUI, distracted driving, and speeding. This Council cannot effectively address DUI without confronting alcohol over-saturation in our commercial zones.

THE EVIDENCE:

Leucadia Boulevard (Census Tract 177.01) has 19 active licenses against a cap of 7—271% over the legal limit
National and local studies consistently show: alcohol over-saturation → increased DUI → increased traffic fatalities
A recent collision on Leucadia Boulevard (August 23, 2026, 10:59 PM) demonstrates the daily risk
THE QUESTION FOR STAFF:

Since the 2016 alcohol saturation report to the planning commission, has this issue improved or worsened? What is the true cost to public safety—including lives lost—versus revenue gained?
THE REQUEST:

Approve a resolution establishing a City Council policy to NOT approve any increases in alcohol service, seating areas, or distribution within our City, until such time as the City Council reviews and accepts a study showing the Alcohol Outlet Saturation Levels in Encinitas are at a desirable level as determined solely by the City Council.

DETAILED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Background & Context
The City Council's recent discussion of the Business Commission Workplan appropriately emphasized that Encinitas must attract businesses that "fit within the ethos of the community." As Mayor Ehlers noted, this is not about maximizing business revenue at the expense of community character. “It's about the right mix of businesses mix to support the community. But that does not mean getting a mix that focuses maximizing business revenue dollars because that will have us go down a path of pacific beach. That is how Pacific Beach became the town that it is today.”I completely agree with the Mayor’s sentiments on this subject.

Road safety improvements underway—including street resurfacing, updated striping standards, and the L101 streetscape project with effective yield-control intersections—are commendable. However, these infrastructure improvements alone cannot address the root causes of traffic fatalities when one of those primary causes (DUI) is directly enabled by alcohol over-saturation in our community.

The Three Leading Causes of Traffic Injuries and Fatalities As documented in both national and local studies, the top three leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities on our roads are:

1. Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

2. Distracted Driving

3. Speeding
ISSUE 1: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI)
The August 23, 2026 Incident
A video posted on social media on August 23, 2026 at 10:59 PM documents a single-vehicle collision on Leucadia Boulevard. The video shows a person working on the road who runs toward the collision to render aid. This incident exemplifies the frequency and danger of impaired driving on Leucadia Boulevard and other roadways in Encinitas.

Video Reference: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcbU2EXi2bM/ Credit: @roundaboutrookies on Instagram
Key Observation: The roundabout on Santa Fe Drive, Leucadia Blvd., and N.

Coast Highway 101 effectively protects innocent bystanders by limiting the severity of collisions caused by impaired drivers. Proposed yield-control intersections on N. Coast Highway 101 north of Leucadia Boulevard will provide similar protective benefits.

Alcohol Over-Saturation: The Documentation
Census Tract 177.01 (Leucadia Area) – Current Status
Active On-Sale Licenses: 19
Allowable Cap: 7
Over-Concentration Rate: 271%
Leucadia. is heavily "over-concentrated" under California guidelines, with nearly triple its state-allotted limit.

Legal and Regulatory Implications
This high density of alcohol licenses triggers several legal and regulatory considerations:

The Legal Hurdle – Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN): Because the tract is over-concentrated, the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) cannot automatically issue new or expanded retail alcohol licenses with special conditions for limitations eliminate.

The Burden of Proof: Any new business applying for an increase in achohol service area or distribution must successfully complete the Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) process.

Local Government Control: The applicant must convince the Encinitas City Council or local law enforcement that the business provides a unique benefit justifying exceeding the risk of the exceeding the over-sateration level.

Public Health & Safety Records
The City of Encinitas has previous staff reports documenting alcohol oversaturation as a public health and safety concern. A 2016 City Staff Report to the Planning Commission specifically addressed this topic and there are numerous studies that correlation the issue with increased crime.

Key Finding: Numerous peer-reviewed studies establish a direct correlation between alcohol over-saturation in geographic areas and exponential increases in crime rates. Research from medical and public health institutions confirms this relationship.

Relevant Research Reference
Medical Xpress Article: "The Relationship Between Alcohol Outlets and Traffic" Studies demonstrate that areas with high concentrations of alcohol outlets experience elevated traffic incident rates, including DUI-related collisions.

CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR CITY STAFF
The City Council should direct staff to provide responses to the following questions in the official record:

1. Alcohol Over-Saturation Trend Analysis: Have there been studies conducted since the 2016 staff report showing whether alcohol oversaturation in Encinitas is improving or worsening? What is the current trajectory?

2. Cost-Benefit Analysis: What is the true net cost and benefit to the City for its current alcohol saturation status? This analysis must include:

Direct and indirect impacts to public health and safety Estimated costs associated with increased DUI incidents, traffic collisions, and emergency response
Projected loss of life and serious injury
Revenue generated from alcohol service licenses and related business activity

3. Review Process:

Are staff reports on alcohol saturation being submitted to the Planning Commission for all relevant permit applications? If not, why has this regulatory tool not been utilized?

PROPOSED ACTION & MOTION
Specific Request to City Council
Approve a resolution establishing a City Council policy to NOT approve any increases in alcohol service, seating areas, or distribution within our City, until such time as the City Council reviews and accepts a study showing the Alcohol Saturation Levels in Encinitas are at a desirable level as determined solely by the City Council.

Rationale
This motion accomplishes multiple objectives:

Ensures that public safety and other community quality of life issues are prioritized over short-term revenue increases
Provides staff with clear direction to conduct necessary analysis Establishes a measurable standard for alcohol saturation before additional permits are issued
Maintains local control over land use decisions in alignment with community values
Addresses one of the core root causes of serious injuries and fatalities in Encinitas

CONCLUSION
The City Council has demonstrated strong commitment to preserving Encinitas' character and coastal charm while addressing public safety. This proposal is consistent with that commitment.

Infrastructure improvements—roundabouts, resurfaced streets, and updated traffic control measures—are essential. However, they cannot fully address DUI as a leading cause of traffic fatalities without parallel action to reduce alcohol oversaturation in our commercial zones.

Passing this motion is a meaningful step toward comprehensive road safety that honors both community values and public health.

Thank you for your consideration and your continued service to the City of Encinitas, and please confirm this email will become a part of the record on this item.

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Frank, P.E.

From: patty.st
To: Peter Weichers
Subject: added comment for 12B
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 1:05:13 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Peter,
will you please add this to Agenda item 12B comments:

I totally agree with Mr. Thomas Frank's comment for 12B - Road Safety:

Do not approve anymore alcohol serving establishments in the Encinitas downtown, Coast Hwy area.

Thank you,
Patty Stottlemyer
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.

From: Carmen Mitchell
To: City Clerk
Subject: Special City Council Meeting - Roadway Safety and Traffic Enforcement - Item 1 Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 1:56:10 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

To the city council,
I live in Village Park and would like to express my support for pursuing the possibility of adding red light cameras to intersections in Encinitas. Every day, I see people run red lights in and around our community. It's gotten to be so common that I am more impressed when I *don't* see someone run a red light!
It doesn't matter if I am a pedestrian, riding my bike, or driving in my car, there are too many people speeding and running red lights. I implore the city council to act to preserve the safety of the people living in Encinitas. Please move forward with exploring the option to add red light cameras. We deserve safe streets!
Carmen Mitchell
From: Leslie Engel
To: City Clerk
Subject: Agenda item 12B
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 3:24:11 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Red light running is a regular thing in Encinitas. It has gotten exponentially worse in the last few years. I would like to see red light cameras at the two intersections that are being talked about, Encinitas Boulevard at El Camino Real, and Leucadia Boulevard at El Camino Real, but just as important at the intersection just east of the overpass where Manchester and I-5 converge.

There are not enough sheriff’s to catch people sometimes five or six cars at a time well into a red light violating this law, please help us!!!
Thank you
Leslie Engel
Sent from my iPhone
From: Karen Merrill
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red light cameras
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 5:15:45 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Secured by Avanan
Dear Mayor and Council,
My granddaughter Emery was killed by a driver who ran a red light on Encinitas Blvd. He drove that route regularly. He ran it a full 6 seconds after the light turned red! Had there been a camera there, he likely would have been aware of that and stopped that tragic evening…and our girl would be celebrating her 14th birthday in October.

Mayor Ehlers has said the problem is driver behavior…I totally agree! The new guidelines for red light cameras would, at least, be a deterrent for some of that behavior. Please, please approve their use and spare another family our tragic reality! Regards,
Karen Merrill
Sent from my iPhone
From: Meghan Gunther
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red light cameras
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 7:48:58 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

My name is Meghan Gunther and I have lived in Encinitas for the past 10 years. I am in full support of red light cameras. There is no doubt they will improve driver behavior, which seems to be the number one problem on our streets. We need safer streets and we need to act now. Let’s make our city the best it can be.

Meghan Gunther
Sent from my iPhone
From: Meriah Davis
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red Light Cameras
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 7:57:32 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Hi Mayor Ehlers,
I remember seeing you at Emory’s memorial. Thank you for showing up! My daughter was a close friend of hers and spoke that day.

Please consider red light cameras to help keep more citizens safe here in Encinitas. One more life lost is too many.

Sincerely,

MERIAH DAVIS
310-560-8599
[email protected]
From: Dana Rubano
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B - Support for Red-Light Cameras in Encinitas Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:46:05 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers,
I’m unable to attend tonight’s City Council meeting, but I wanted to make sure my voice was heard in support of bringing red-light cameras back to Encinitas under the new state rules.

As an Encinitas resident and a parent, traffic safety is incredibly important to me. We all see drivers running red lights, speeding through intersections, and making increasingly dangerous decisions on our roads. It only takes one of those decisions to permanently change a family’s life.

I support the City seriously considering red-light cameras at intersections and corridors where the data demonstrate a significant safety need. I see them not simply as a way to issue citations, but as a deterrent. If drivers know that running a red light is likely to have a consequence, they have another reason to stop, and preventing the violation in the first place is ultimately the goal.

The tragedy that happened to Emery is a heartbreaking reminder that behind every traffic fatality is a family whose life is changed forever. We cannot prevent every collision, but I believe we should be willing to use reasonable, evidence-based tools that have the potential to prevent another family from experiencing such a loss.

Please support moving forward with consideration of red-light cameras in Encinitas. I would rather see the City try a targeted program, measure its effectiveness, and adjust it based on the evidence than wait for another preventable tragedy before acting.

Thank you for your consideration and for prioritizing the safety of our community.

Sincerely,
Dana Rubano
Encinitas resident and parent
From: Kim Messey
To: City Clerk
Subject: Agenda Item 12B for tonight"s City Council Meeting Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:47:59 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

As a parent of an 11 and 13 year old in Encinitas, living in between the intersections where Brody and Emery died, I am wholly in support of Red Light Cameras and any other steps the City can possibly take to make streets safer for everyone. I beg you to do more.

Kim Messey
From: BOB AYERS
To: City Clerk
Subject: 9/16/2026 Regular meeting 12B written comment
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:56:55 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe. 12B
Encinitas residents are begging you to take meaningful steps to make streets safer AND add enforcement measures against those who ignore those steps. SB 720 provides us a NEW step.

It is NOT the red light camera law of the past. SB 720 requires an analysis by our professional staff to determine if it will make Encinitas streets safer. You will not know until that is done.

So please direct our staff to analyze SB 720 and please make an intentional effort to focus your conclusion on its recommendation.

Bob Ayers
Attorney
(760) 753-9086
[email protected]
From: Jessica Loflen
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item #12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 10:12:50 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Hello Council Members and Mayor,
I am writing to express my strong support for item #12B, Red Light Cameras. Implementing red light cameras is a proactive step toward improving public safety, increasing driver accountability, and helping prevent avoidable accidents at our intersections. These benefits will have a lasting positive impact on our community.

The need for the measure is especially timely as new apartments are being built and our population continues to grow. Increased traffic volume from new neighbors and others using our streets as a cut through community will bring additional challenges to road safety, making it critical to put effective safeguards in place rather than waiting for another problem to arise. Red light cameras can help protect our residents, pedestrians, and visitors while reinforcing responsible driving behavior.

I respectfully urge you to approve item #12B and move forward with implementation as soon as possible. Thank you for your time, consideration snd commitment to keeping our community safe.

Kind Regards,
Jessica Loflen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Steven Groke
To: City Clerk; [email protected]
Subject: Fw: Fortuna ranch/lone jack stop sign
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 8:41:32 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Secured by Avanan
Hello city council
I live off of Double LL Ranch Road and am concerned about the proposed stop sign on Lone Jack/fortuna Ranch. I'm a ER physician and fully believe in street safety but as a homeowner who runs, bikes and drives past that intersection frequently I don't feel a problem exists.

Traffic is light enough that a single stop sign as it is now is sufficient. Anything more will slow down traffic, inconvenience home owners and cause delays for both local traffic and possibly emergency or police vehicles. I don't feel a problem exists now so let's not create one. Thanks for listening to my concerns.

Steve Groke
3390 Calle Tres Vistas
Get Outlook for iOS
Disclaimer
This email and its attachments may contain Accolade’s confidential information and/or attorney-client privileged information. Such information may also include personal or protected health information (PHI). If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution, printing or copying of this email message and/or any attachments is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this email in error, we ask that you permanently delete the email (including any attachments).

From: Julie Yefchak
To: City Clerk
Subject: Support for Red-Light Cameras in Encinitas
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:00:23 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Secured by Avanan
Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council, I am writing as an Encinitas resident and a parent to express my support for the use of red-light cameras in our city.

I have become increasingly concerned about drivers running red lights and the safety of our intersections. Red-light violations put drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and especially children, at unnecessary risk. As a parent, the tragic death of 12-year-old Emery Chalekian in April 2025 hit particularly close to home. Emery was crossing Encinitas Boulevard at Village Square Drive in a marked crosswalk when she was struck and killed by a driver who ran a red light. No parent should have to experience such an unimaginable loss, and no child should lose her life simply crossing the street in her own community.

I see drivers run red lights, or speed up through yellow lights, far too often in Encinitas, and I believe automated enforcement can be an important tool for changing that behavior. Drivers need to know that running a red light has consequences, even when a police officer is not present. Red-light cameras could provide consistent enforcement at intersections where violations and collisions are a concern.

I understand there are differing opinions about red-light cameras, including concerns about cost and fairness. However, I believe those issues can be addressed through thoughtful program design and should be weighed against the potential to prevent serious collisions and injuries.

I encourage the City Council to consider the use of red-light cameras in Encinitas, particularly at intersections where traffic and collision data demonstrate a significant safety problem. As a parent and a member of this community, I hope the City will take every reasonable measure available to make our streets safer for our children, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers—and to help prevent another family from experiencing a tragedy like the loss of Emery.

Thank you for considering my comments and for your continued attention to traffic safety in our community.

Sincerely,
Julie Yefchak
Encinitas Resident
From: Dana Rubano
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B - Support for Red-Light Cameras in Encinitas Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:46:05 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Thank you for your consideration and for prioritizing the safety of our community.

Kim Messey
From: BOB AYERS
To: City Clerk
Subject: 9/16/2026 Regular meeting 12B written comment
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:56:54 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe. 12B
Encinitas residents are begging you to take meaningful steps to make streets safer AND add enforcement measures against those who ignore those steps. SB 720 provides us a NEW step.

It is NOT the red light camera law of the past. SB 720 requires an analysis by our professional staff to determine if it will make Encinitas streets safer. You will not know until that is done.

So please direct our staff to analyze SB 720 and please make an intentional effort to focus your conclusion on its recommendation.

I respectfully urge you to approve item #12B and move forward with implementation as soon as possible. Thank you for your time, consideration snd commitment to keeping our community safe.

Kind Regards,
Jessica Loflen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Kevin Messey
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 10:49:18 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear City Council Members,
As a parent of an 11- and 13-year-old living in Encinitas between the intersections where Brody and Emery tragically lost their lives, I am writing to express my strong support for Item 12B. I fully back the implementation of red light cameras and any additional steps the City can take to make our streets safer.

Your priority must be to protect Encinitas citizens—especially our children—rather than making it easier for non-residents to speed through our community. Red light running is an ongoing issue with zero consequences, and I see drivers running red lights far too often, creating dangerous situations for our families. I have had many narrow miss situations of my own and if it wasn't for my own safe driving, I would have been seriously injured, if not killed.

Red light cameras offer a proven and cost-effective way to change driver behavior and ensure consistent enforcement when deputies cannot be present. Under SB 720, strict guidelines are in place to protect public privacy, making this a safe and effective tool.

I strongly encourage the Council to continue evaluating this option. Following the original Staff Report's suggestion, moving forward with a pilot program would allow us to test the cameras' effectiveness before committing to full implementation. Tonight's vote is about continuing the necessary research and analysis—not making a final decision to install them immediately.

Please continue exploring the red light camera program to help keep our streets and children safe.

Sincerely,
Kevin Messey
From: Victoria Yutko
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 10:54:46 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Secured by Avanan
Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the City Council,
I am writing to express my strong support for SB 720 and the implementation of automated red-light enforcement cameras in Encinitas as an important safeguard for pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone who uses our roadways.

As a resident and parent, I am increasingly concerned about the number of drivers who blatantly disregard traffic signals throughout our community. Nearly every time I drive in Encinitas, I witness multiple vehicles run red lights. These are not drivers attempting to clear an intersection at the end of a yellow light. Rather, they are drivers who deliberately accelerate through intersections after the light has already turned red, creating dangerous conditions for pedestrians and other motorists.

It is deeply troubling that I do not feel comfortable allowing my children the independence to walk through our neighborhood because of the very real risk posed by reckless drivers. No parent should have to question whether a child can safely cross the street in their own community.

How many pedestrians must be seriously injured or killed before we take meaningful action to hold those who repeatedly violate basic traffic laws accountable? The safeguards and accountability measures proposed in SB 720 are reasonable, balanced, and focused on improving public safety. Automated red-light enforcement is not about punishment; it is about deterrence, changing dangerous driving behaviors, and protecting lives. Communities should not have to wait for another tragedy before implementing proven tools that can reduce preventable crashes and injuries.

I encourage the City Council to support the implementation of red-light cameras in Encinitas and to take advantage of the opportunities provided by SB 720 to make our streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, families, and residents of all ages.

Thank you for your consideration and your commitment to the safety of our community.

Victoria Yutko
Encinitas Resident
631-513-5204
From: Elizabeth
To: City Clerk
Subject: Subject: Item 12B – Support for Continued Analysis of Red Light Cameras Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 11:00:06 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council, I’m writing in support of Item 12B and to encourage the City Council to continue exploring the implementation of red light cameras in Encinitas under SB 720.

As someone who spends hours in my car driving my children to and from school and activities throughout Encinitas, I have witnessed countless drivers run red lights, often during some of the busiest times of day. It has become something I see far too regularly, and as both a parent and a member of this community, it terrifies me.

I believe the original Staff Report offered a sensible approach: begin with a pilot program and evaluate the results before making any decision about broader implementation. We don’t need to decide tonight that red light cameras are the permanent solution for Encinitas. We simply need to be willing to seriously evaluate whether they could make our streets safer.

I support red light cameras because running a red light can have devastating consequences. If this technology can change driver behavior and reduce dangerous violations at intersections where we know there is a safety problem, I believe it is worth exploring.

Tonight is about continuing the research and analysis, not making a final decision to install cameras. I encourage the Council to move this conversation forward, thoroughly evaluate a pilot program, and ultimately make a decision based on the evidence and the needs of our community.

Thank you for your time and for your commitment to making Encinitas safer.

Elizabeth Lawlor
From: Laura Van Dusen
To: City Clerk
Subject: Support for Agenda Item 12B – Red Light Cameras (Please Direct Staff to Pursue a Pilot Program) Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 11:23:29 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the City Council,
Thank you for placing agenda item 12B on tonight's agenda for consideration, and for giving the public an opportunity to weigh in on this important discussion.

I urge you to support the MTSC's recommendation and direct staff to move forward with red light camera implementation under Senate Bill 720. Specifically, I am asking that you direct staff to pursue this as a PILOT PROGRAM rather than a policy. A pilot allows the City to act quickly at a defined set of high-risk intersections, gather real-world data on effectiveness, and refine the approach — without the delay of a lengthy policy development process. Given what is at stake, that speed matters.

I recognize that a policy process may ultimately be part of a comprehensive approach, but I believe a pilot program is the responsible first step — one that lets us begin saving lives now while building the data and public trust needed for a longer-term policy.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and for your continued attention to the safety of everyone who walks, bikes, and drives in Encinitas.

Sincerely,
Laura Van Dusen
Founding Member, Safe Streets Encinitas
From: Krista Lamp
To: City Clerk
Subject: Regarding the red light camera agenda item this evening Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 11:36:45 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Hello -
I am writing in support of item 12B and to encourage the City Council to continue researching and analyzing the use of red-light cameras in Encinitas.

As a parent in Encinitas, traffic safety is something I think about every single day. What happened to Emery in April 2025 was devastating, and it has made the very real consequences of red-light running impossible to ignore.

I understand that tonight is not about making a final decision to implement red-light cameras.

My understanding is that the conversation is about whether to continue the research and analysis, including the possibility of a pilot program. I strongly support doing this.

A pilot would allow Encinitas to evaluate the effectiveness of red-light cameras in our own community and understand the benefits and considerations before making any decision about broader implementation.

At minimum, I believe our community deserves the opportunity to gather the data and have the conversation before ruling tis safety measure out.

I appreciate the city's efforts around education and enforcement, and while driver behavior is an issue, this alone will not fix the dire situation Encinitas is faced with. We have the chance to act to keep our streets safer for our community, and I hope you make the decision to do so.

Thank you,
Krista Lamp
From: Dinorah Falco
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B – Red Light Cameras and Traffic Safety in Encinitas Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 11:46:17 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Council Members,
Re: Item 12B – Red Light Cameras and Traffic Safety in Encinitas I am writing as a concerned resident of Encinitas and, most importantly, as a parent who wants to feel safe having my family walk, bike, and drive throughout our community.

I strongly support continuing the City’s work toward implementing redlight cameras under Senate Bill 720. I understand that tonight is not about making a final decision to install cameras. It is about continuing the research, analysis, and conversation so that the City can determine whether this tool can help make our streets safer.

The original Staff Report made what I believe was a very reasonable suggestion: test a pilot program first and evaluate its effectiveness before committing to full implementation. I strongly encourage the City Council to continue pursuing that approach.

A pilot program gives Encinitas the opportunity to collect real local data.

We can evaluate whether cameras reduce red-light running, improve compliance, and ultimately prevent dangerous crashes. We can also identify which intersections would benefit most and determine what adjustments may be needed before considering a broader program.

What concerns me is the possibility of continuing to study the problem without taking the next step toward actually testing a solution.

We have the technology. We have new state legislation that provides a framework for cities to use red-light cameras. And we have a community that has repeatedly expressed concern about dangerous driving and traffic safety. The City’s own priorities recognize the importance of public health and safety and safer transportation. (City of Encinitas) So I respectfully ask: What is stopping us from continuing the analysis and moving forward with a carefully designed pilot program? I am not asking the Council to commit to installing cameras throughout Encinitas tonight. I am asking you to continue the work necessary to determine whether they can save lives.

And I believe we should be looking at traffic safety more broadly. In addition to red-light cameras, I encourage the City to investigate speedcamera options where legally available and appropriate, as well as Flock or other technology that can assist law enforcement with identifying vehicles involved in serious crimes or dangerous incidents.

These tools should be carefully evaluated for effectiveness, privacy protections, cost, and appropriate use.

My hope is that Encinitas approaches this as a comprehensive traffic-safety effort rather than as a debate over one particular technology.

Please continue the conversation. Continue the research. Analyze the intersections. Study the data. Develop a pilot program. Measure the results.

We should not have to wait for another family to experience a tragedy before we decide that roadway safety deserves to be a priority.

As a concerned Encinitas resident, I am asking you to please keep moving this forward.

Thank you for your service to our community and for taking the safety of our residents seriously.

Sincerely,
Dinorah Falco
Concerned Encinitas Resident
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From: Katelyn De Spain
To: City Clerk
Subject: ITEM 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 11:56:47 AM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and City Council Members,
I’m writing in support of continuing the conversation and further analysis of red light cameras in Encinitas under SB 720.

As someone who drives around Encinitas every day, I see drivers running red lights far too often. It has become common enough that it feels like there are very few consequences for doing it. I’ve personally witnessed drivers entering intersections well after the light has turned red, creating incredibly dangerous situations for other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

I believe red light cameras have the potential to change that behavior. When drivers know an intersection is being monitored, there is an added incentive to stop rather than take the chance of running the light. Cameras can also provide consistent enforcement at intersections where it simply isn’t realistic to have a Sheriff’s deputy present at all times—and without requiring deputies to be stationed at intersections where drivers are routinely running red lights.

I also appreciate that SB 720 includes guidelines intended to address privacy and accountability concerns surrounding the use of automated enforcement.

Most importantly, I am asking that you direct staff to pursue this specifically as a pilot program rather than a policy.

A pilot would allow the City to act more quickly at a defined set of high-risk intersections, gather real-world data on effectiveness, and refine the approach before considering broader implementation—all without the delay of developing a comprehensive long-term policy first.

Given what is at stake, I believe that speed matters.

Our community has experienced the devastating loss of three children who have been struck and killed by vehicles in the past three years. I recognize that red light cameras are not a solution to every traffic-safety problem, nor am I suggesting they would have prevented those specific tragedies. But those losses are an urgent reminder that we should be willing to explore every reasonable tool available to make our streets safer.

I recognize that a broader policy process may ultimately be part of a comprehensive approach, but I believe a pilot program is the responsible first step—one that allows us to begin working to save lives now while building the real-world data and public trust needed for a longer-term policy.

Tonight is not about deciding to install red light cameras throughout Encinitas. It is about allowing the City to continue the research and analysis and determine whether this could be an effective tool for making our streets safer.

I support the use of red light cameras, and I encourage the Council to direct staff to move forward with analyzing and developing a pilot program under SB 720 before making any decisions about permanent implementation.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best,
Katelyn De Spain
Encinitas Resident
From: olivia heeren
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B – Support for Red Light Camera Pilot Program Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:17:51 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council, I am writing in support of implementing red light cameras in Encinitas under the new Senate Bill 720.

Mayor Ehlers has repeatedly stated — in interviews and even at Emery's memorial — that we have a driver behavior problem. I agree. But identifying the problem is not enough. We need meaningful action that actually protects our children and our community.

If driver behavior is the problem, then we need to take action that changes driver behavior. We cannot rely on individual drivers setting the example. Red light cameras are a proven tool to do exactly that — drivers are more likely to stop on red when they know a camera is present, and the data from communities across the country supports this.

Right now, drivers in Encinitas run red lights with zero consequences.

Red light cameras provide consistent, around-the-clock enforcement when it's simply not possible — or safe — to station a deputy at every dangerous intersection. The design of our enforcement strategy, like the design of our roads, directly influences how people drive. If we want safer behavior, we need systems that encourage safer choices.

I also want to note that SB 720 includes strict guidelines to protect residents' privacy, addressing one of the most common concerns about this technology.

I'm not asking the Council to make a final decision tonight. The original Staff Report wisely recommended testing a Pilot Program first — evaluating the effectiveness of the cameras before committing to full implementation. That is a reasonable, measured approach, and I encourage you to continue the conversation and pursue that analysis.

Our community deserves more than words about the problem. We deserve action. I urge the Council to move forward with exploring the red light camera program under SB 720.

Thank you, Olivia Heeren
From: Kelly Ryan
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:29:18 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor, City Council Members, and City Staff,
I’m writing as an Encinitas community member to express my support for continuing to explore the implementation of red light cameras in our city.

While I’m unable to attend tonight’s meeting in person, I strongly encourage the Council to continue the research and analysis needed to determine whether red light cameras can make our streets and intersections safer.

I support the original Staff Report’s recommendation to consider a pilot program. Testing the program would give the City an opportunity to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of red light cameras before making a decision about full implementation.

I also encourage the City to continue exploring what is possible under the new Senate bill. I understand that tonight’s discussion is not about making a final decision to install cameras, but rather about determining whether this option deserves further analysis. I believe it absolutely does.

As a parent raising three children in this community, street safety is incredibly important to me. The tragic loss of Emery is a devastating reminder of what can happen when drivers run red lights. If there are tools available that could help prevent another family from experiencing a loss like this, I believe we owe it to our community to fully evaluate them.

Please continue moving this conversation forward and pursue further analysis of a red light camera pilot program.

Thank you for your time and for considering the voices of residents who cannot be there in person tonight.

Sincerely,
Kelly Ryan
From: Jessica Dacher
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B Comment—City Council mtg 9/16/26
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:29:23 PM
Dear Mayor Ehlers and City Council Members,
I am writing to ask that you support red-light cameras and implement a test to determine their effectiveness in our most dangerous intersections.

While red-light running in Encinitas is so prevalent that it has become almost routine, I recently experienced two shameless instances that floored me. On both occasions, I stopped at yellow lights—once southbound on Willowspring Drive @ Encinitas Blvd and another time westbound on Encinitas Blvd @ Emery's Crossing. The cars directly behind me had time to stop, but instead of simply putting on their brakes and waiting patiently, they tore around me to run the red lights. These drivers won't stop their egregious and dangerous behavior magically. They must face consequences that a red light program can offer.

Sheriffs can't be everywhere all the time; signs are treated as mere suggestions, and education can only go so far.

We need a solution that forces behavior change through accountability. Please add automated enforcement to our street safety toolbox. Encinitans are begging you. Please listen.

Sincerely,
Jessica Dacher
Village Park/D4
From: Aaron Hebshi
To: City Clerk
Subject: 2026-09-16 City Council item 12B - Red Light Cameras Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:48:39 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

On the day after Carlsbad saw another person killed by a car while she was out walking her dog, we know this epidemic of traffic deaths is out of control in our region. We need to pull out all the stops to get this under control. VMS signs and Mayor Ehlers driving slowly are part of the culture change we need to promote. Parent, driver, and rider education are important.

We need sheriff enforcement, particularly in those locations identified as danger hot spots. We need street redesign in a way that reduces vehicle speed. And we need automated enforcement.

Mayor Ehlers has said that automated enforcement, of which Red Light Cameras is one form, are a force multiplier for the sheriff's enforcement team. Yes!! Please direct staff to implement a policy in line with SB 720. Again we need to pull out all the stops to keep our friends, kids, and visitors safe on our roads.

There is also a lot of concern about automated cameras, particularly FLOCK cameras, being used to apprehend our neighbors and track individuals outside of warrants. Please develop a Red Light Camera policy that explicitly protects our privacy while cracking down on traffic violations.

Respectfully,
Aaron Hebshi
Encinitas District 2
From: Trisha Crawford
To: City Clerk
Subject: item 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:50:53 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Caution: The sender name (Trisha Crawford) is different from their email address ([email protected]), which may indicate an impersonation attempt. Verify the email's authenticity with the sender using your organization's trusted contact list before replying or taking further action.

Secured by Avanan
Dear Mayor Ehlers and City Council members,
I am writing in support of implementing red light cameras in our city and hoping to encourage your support as well. I am a long time resident of Encinitas and work in the shopping center along Encinitas Blvd. where Emery was killed by a driver who grossly ran the red light. I have personally witnessed people running that exact same light three times while waiting at the intersection to go home after work. I believe people will be much less likely to run the red light knowing there is a camera present and a threat of being ticketed. Please support this move to make our streets safer and hold drivers accountable! Thank you,
Trisha Crawford
From: Katie Magnuson
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B – Support for Red Light Camera Pilot Program Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:51:06 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Encinitas City Council Members,
My name is Katie Magnuson, and I am writing to you as a resident of Encinitas in strong support of moving forward with a red light camera pilot program in our city.

I think about Emery Chalekian every time I drive through our intersections. Emery was just 12 years old when she was struck and killed on April 25, 2025, at Encinitas Boulevard and Village Square Drive by a driver who ran a red light. She was doing everything right, crossing the street to get to her ballet class. She trusted that our streets were safe. We owe it to her, and to every other family in this community, to make sure that trust is not misplaced again.

That's why I was encouraged to see the City's Staff Report recommend a smart, measured path forward: a pilot program. Testing the effectiveness of red light cameras before committing to full implementation is exactly the right approach. It lets us gather real, local data and make sure any program we build is effective and fair, rather than guessing at outcomes or rushing a decision either way.

I also want to encourage the Council to continue this conversation under the framework of SB 720, the Safer Streets Program. This new state law addresses many of the concerns that led Encinitas to end its previous camera program in 2020, it treats violations as civil infractions rather than moving violations, and it removes the reliance on driver photo identification that made past enforcement so difficult. This is a meaningful opportunity to bring back a program that actually works for our community.

I understand that tonight's discussion is not about installing cameras, it's about continuing the research and analysis needed to make a well-informed decision down the road. That is exactly what I'm asking you to support. Please keep this conversation moving forward.

I am in full support of red light cameras in Encinitas, and I ask the Council to direct staff to continue analyzing this pilot program so we can move toward safer streets for every child, cyclist, and pedestrian in our city.

Thank you for your time, and for your continued commitment to keeping Encinitas safe.

Sincerely,
Katie Magnuson
158 Rodney Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024
From: Martin Fabani
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red light cameras
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:58:40 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear City Clerk,
I’m writing in support of implementing red light cameras in Encinitas and of continuing the City’s evaluation of the program.

I support further research and analysis, including consideration of a pilot that would allow the City to evaluate the effectiveness of the cameras before making decisions about broader implementation.

Traffic safety is an important issue in our community, and I believe red light cameras are worth pursuing as a tool to help improve safety at Encinitas intersections.

Best,
Martin Fabani
Encinitas resident
Sent from my iPhone
From: Amanda Vail
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:04:15 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

To whom it may concern:

As a mom to four young children, it is devastating that our community has not only endured tragic losses but that more significant changes have not been implemented to address improving the safety of our streets.

It seems like it is still undecided whether to implement the use of Red Light Cameras in Encinitas again. I was under the impression that a pilot program was being considered, but now I am unsure if that is being reconsidered. At a minimum, I would think continued research and a pilot program would be needed before deciding against the use of RLCs.

Thank you for your time.

Amanda Vail
From: Wade Van Dusen
To: City Clerk
Subject: Sep 16th Action Items
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:22:08 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Hello,
I just want to pass along that I am excited to see that item 12A is being discussed amongst the council. Can I ask what took it so long to go from subcommittee to a city council meeting? 12A. Explore the Applicability of a Red Light Camera Pilot Program per SB 720 in the City of Encinitas.

Thank you,
Wade
From: Rebecca Troyan
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B – Support for Red Light Camera Policy Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:27:55 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the City Council,
I'm writing in support of Item 12B and respectfully ask that you consider MTSC’s recommendation to review a policy for the potential implementation of red-light cameras.

As you are all likely aware, red-light running is a real problem in our city. Personally, I witness at least three drivers run red lights every day. Most of the time, there are no consequences. Red-light cameras can serve as a “silent deputy,” providing consistent enforcement even when law enforcement cannot be present.

Cameras are not a magic bullet for roadway safety, nor should they be viewed as the only solution. But they are one potential safety tool that deserves thoughtful consideration as part of the City’s broader safety strategy.

If a pilot program is an option, that seems like a reasonable way to evaluate the technology:
give it a chance, measure the results, and determine whether it is making a meaningful difference. The City can then make future decisions based on the results.

We can always reevaluate a pilot program. What we cannot undo is the regret of knowing we had an opportunity to explore a potential safety measure and chose not to try.

I respectfully ask that you consider the MTSC recommendation and evaluate red-light cameras under the new SB 720 framework, including the possibility of a pilot program.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Troyan | Encinitas Resident
--
From: Sabrina Grigorian
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B – Support for Continued Research on Red Light Cameras Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:32:06 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Encinitas City Council,
I am writing as a mom of two young children and a resident of Encinitas to express my strong support for continuing to explore the use of red light cameras in our city.

As a parent, traffic safety is something I think about every single day. I walk and drive my children to school, activities, sports, and around our community, and I want to know that the streets we travel every day are as safe as they can possibly be. Knowing that a child like Emery was tragically killed by someone running a red light makes this issue feel incredibly personal and heartbreaking.

I understand that tonight’s discussion is not about immediately deciding to install red light cameras. I support continuing the research and analysis so that our community can better understand whether a program could make our intersections safer.

I was especially encouraged by the original Staff Report’s suggestion of exploring a pilot program. Testing the effectiveness of red light cameras before committing to full implementation seems like a thoughtful way to gather real data and evaluate whether they are making a meaningful difference.

I encourage the City to continue the conversation and explore implementation under the new state legislation. As a parent, I would much rather see our city take the time to study every reasonable tool available to prevent another devastating tragedy than decide not to explore an option that could potentially save a life.

Thank you for taking this issue seriously and for continuing to look for ways to make Encinitas safer for our children, families, pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone who uses our roads.

Sincerely,
A concerned Encinitas mom of two- Sabrina
From: Kori Smith
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:36:39 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

HelloIf I wasn't down with a bad head cold, I would be in attendance tonight with my yellow t-shirt in honor of Emery. I am an Encinitas resident with two children at Park Dale Lane elementary and not a day goes by where I don't think about how that could have been one of my children who got hit and killed in an Encinitas crosswalk.

I am very strongly in support of Red Light cameras and the city continuing to pursue analyzing the program. I support the pilot program to test the effectiveness prior to fully committing. I know that what is currently happening on our city streets needs to CHANGE. I see people speeding up and running yellow and red lights on a regular basis. The intersection where Emery was killed continues to be extremely dangerous, when the light turns green, I look both ways before I start to drive because of how many times I have seen cars run the red light.

PLEASE look in the audience tonight and see all the yellow shirts in honor of an innocent 12 year old girl who was taken from this life way too soon. A young girl who was doing the right thing and crossing in the crosswalk, when a careless driver ran a red light and took her from our community. We must create change and make sure no more innocent lives are taken on our encinitas streets.I encourage city council staff to continue the conversation of red light cameras under the new senate bill.

Thank you for your time.

KORI SMITH
From: Elannie Noveski
To: City Clerk
Subject: "Item 12B" Support for Red Light Cameras in Encinitas Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:39:55 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
My husband and I are Encinitas residents and parents, and we would like to express our support for considering red light cameras under SB720. As parents, we drive our children around our community all the time, and our kids also walk around the neighborhood. Knowing that drivers may run a red light at a busy intersection is a real concern for us. We hope the City will consider this additional safety measure to help prevent serious accidents and make our street safer for all families. Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
Elannie Noveski & Vladimir Noveski
From: leigh ratcliffe
To: City Clerk
Subject: Agenda 12B Red Light Cameras
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:45:08 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Mayor Ehlers and City Council,
Thank you for placing a discussion of red light cameras on the agenda. I am writing in support of agenda item 12B and implementation of a red light camera program. Specifically, directing staff to pursue a pilot program as laid out in the original staff report is a smart, fiscally responsible, low risk path.

Red light cameras reduce crashes and specifically reduce serious injuries and fatalities (see Cohn EG, Kakar S, Perkins C, Steinbach R, Edwards P. Red light camera interventions for reducing traffic violations and traffic crashes: A systematic review. Campbell Syst Rev. 2020 Jun 29;16(2):e1091. doi: 10.1002/cl2.1091. PMID:
37131412; PMCID: PMC8356316. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37131412/). They are particularly good at reducing the type of crash they were designed to prevent, a right-angle crash (see Retting RA, Kyrychenko SY. Reductions in injury crashes associated with red light camera enforcement in oxnard, california. Am J Public Health. 2002 Nov;92(11):1822-5. doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.11.1822. PMID: 12406815; PMCID: PMC1447335.

Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12406815/).

The argument isn’t that red light cameras will eliminate all crashes at intersections. It is that they reduce red-light violations, particularly, the serious right-angle and injury crashes associated with running red lights.

Red light cameras change driver behavior. Something this council has repeatedly said is a major problem in our city. Numerous studies have shown reductions in red light violations over time after a red light camera is installed.

In addition, our own city data shows that repeat offenders are rare. Most drivers who receive a ticket for running a red light do not do it again.

Red light running is difficult and unsafe to enforce. Our own Sheriffs have said that it is very difficult to pursue a red light runner, and can also be dangerous for the Sheriff. This council has repeatedly said they support more enforcement to correct driver behavior. Red light cameras can do that - without risking the safety of our Sheriffs.

The decision you make tonight could save lives. I hope you move forward with the implementation of red light cameras in Encinitas.

Sincerely,
Leigh Ratcliffe
Founding Member, Safe Streets Encinitas
From: Rina
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red light cameras
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:45:23 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Subject: ITEM 12B
Dear Mayor Ehlers and City Council Members,
I’m writing in support of continuing the conversation and further analysis of red light cameras in Encinitas under SB 720.

I also appreciate that SB 720 includes guidelines intended to address privacy and accountability concerns surrounding the use of automated enforcement.

Most importantly, I am asking that you direct staff to pursue this specifically as a pilot program rather than a policy.

Given what is at stake, I believe that speed matters.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Rina Kelting, Encinitas resident
Sent from my iPhone
From: Bridget Chalekian
To: City Clerk
Subject: Support for Agenda Item 12B – Red Light Cameras Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:51:48 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the City Council,
As a mother who lost her child to a red light runner, I cannot urge you strongly enough to consider the potential safety benefits red light camera (RLC) enforcement could bring to our community.

The driver who struck my daughter was not an Encinitas resident. He regularly used Encinitas Blvd to commute to work. I will never know whether a RLC would have prevented the crash that killed Emery. But I firmly believe that if drivers know an intersection is being monitored and that running a red light has consequences, it can change behavior—and potentially save lives.

We already understand this principle. When drivers see a police officer regularly positioned near an intersection, they tend to slow down and pay attention. Automated enforcement can provide that deterrent consistently, without requiring a deputy to physically sit at every dangerous intersection.

I also understand that some people have concerns about privacy and surveillance. But SB 720 provides specific safeguards for how these systems are operated, how violations are reviewed, and how photographic information is handled.

And this is about one very specific behavior: running a red light.

We cannot realistically put a patrol car at every intersection, every hour of every day. And we should not expect our law enforcement officers to have to pursue every red light violator. Automated enforcement gives our deputies another tool—one that can address this specific dangerous behavior while allowing officers to focus their time and attention on situations that require their physical presence.

Most importantly, this is not about generating tickets. It is about changing behavior before someone gets hurt, or worse, killed.

We have the ability to use technology as one part of a broader traffic safety strategy. SB 720 gives cities another tool to do exactly that.

I am asking you—not just as a mother, but as a member of this community—to please take action.

Please consider how RLC enforcement can make our intersections safer and hold drivers accountable.

Thank you,
Bridget Chalekian
Encinitas resident and parent
From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk
Subject: B12
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 1:58:05 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Secured by Avanan
To whom it may concern,
We are writing to express our support for installing red light cameras at busier intersections throughout Encinitas. We believe that these cameras would promote more cautious driving and provide clear video evidence of instances of unsafe driving. We encourage thoughtful consideration of any measures that will help to avoid another catastrophe like to what happened to Emery.

Respectfully,
Ben and Laura Freeman,
parents of Ellie and Hudson, friends of Emery, Coulter, John, and Bridget Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association ~ 1410 N. Coast Hwy 101, Ste C. Encinitas, CA 92024 www.leucadia101mainstreet .com
September 16th, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council Members, City of Encinitas
From: Stacy Reddell, Executive Director, Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Subject: Support for Continued Analysis of Red Light Camera Pilot Program Re: September 16th
, 2026 City Council Meeting Agenda Item 12B
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
On behalf of the Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association, I'm writing to express our support for continuing the research and analysis of red light cameras (RLCs) as outlined in Item 12B on tonight's agenda.

We understand tonight is not about deciding to install red light cameras but about continuing the progress of this ongoing conversation in light of the alarming uptick of young people being killed by motorists in our community. The original Staff Report made a sound recommendation to test a pilot program and then evaluate the real-world effectiveness of these cameras before committing to full implementation. We believe a measured, evidence-based approach is the right one, and we'd encourage the Council to move forward with it.

We also encourage the Council to continue examining how red light cameras could be implemented under the new state senate bill, which provides an updated framework for cities considering this technology. Understanding how that legislation applies locally seems like an important part of a thorough review.

Traffic safety, including red light running, is a concern for our members and the broader community we represent. We support the City taking the time needed to fully evaluate whether RLCs could help address it here, through continued data gathering, a pilot program, and a wellinformed decision rather than a rushed one. We ask the Council to vote to keep this research and analysis moving forward tonight.

Thank you for your time and for your continued attention to the safety of all Encinitas residents and business owners in our community.

Sincerely,
Stacy Reddell
Executive Director, Leucadia 101 Mainstreet
From: Theresa Beauchamp
To: City Clerk
Subject: Regular City Council Meeting September 16, 2026 - Agenda Item 12C - Red Light Cameras Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 2:26:28 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Councilmembers:

I recommend that the City Council approve moving forward with studying the costs, effectiveness and applicability of red light camera detection under SB 720. Our City needs to study all potential effective tools to improve traffic safety.

Theresa Beauchamp
District 2
From: Second Place
To: City Clerk
Subject: Special City Council Meeting - Roadway Safety and Traffic Enforcement - Item 12B Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 7:44:01 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

I’m an Encinitas Business owner and resident. I’m also a mother to a child that was hit by a truck that ran a red light in downtown Encinitas. He survived the accident by a miracle, but I see multiple cars run red lights every single day in my 2 mile commute from home to work and back. I worry for the lives of my children and fellow residents. Red light disobedience is a major problem in Encinitas and it seems that drivers have no accountability for obeying traffic lights. So we have a great opportunity here to save lives! I beg you to consider a Pilot program so we can get real data to support lasting change with red light cameras. Let’s help this town slow down and pay attention, please.

Betsy Smith
From: Padraig Lawlor
To: City Clerk
Subject: Item 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 12:44:19 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Secured by Avanan
Dear Mayor Ehlers and Members of the Encinitas City Council, I’m writing in support of Item 12B and encourage the Council to continue exploring the use of red light cameras in Encinitas.

As a parent who drives throughout Encinitas every day, I see drivers run red lights far too often. It’s a serious safety concern, particularly at our busiest intersections.

The pilot program seems like a sensible approach. It allows the city to test whether cameras actually improve safety before making any long-term commitment.

Please continue the research and analysis and give this program the opportunity to be evaluated based on real results.

Thank you,
Padraig Lawlor
www.padraiglawlor.com <http://www.padraiglawlor.com>
From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk
Subject: 12B
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 2:01:11 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

To whom it may concern,
We are writing to express our support for installing red light cameras at busier intersections throughout Encinitas.

We believe that these cameras would promote more cautious driving and provide clear video evidence of instances of unsafe driving. We encourage thoughtful consideration of any measures that will help to avoid another catastrophe like to what happened to Emery.

Respectfully,
Ben and Laura Freeman,
parents of Ellie and Hudson, friends of Emery, Colter, John, and Bridget From: Joy Sheppard
To: City Clerk
Subject: Special City Council Meeting-Roadway Safety and Traffic Enforcement-Item 1 Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 2:45:35 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Ehlers and City Council,
My daughter and 2 friends from SDA were hit by a car running a red light at the intersection of El Camino Real and Santa Fe. One friend was taken to the ER, my daughter had a concussion, the car was totaled, but it could have been much worse.
* According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety <https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/red-lightrunning> (IIHS), cameras lower the rate of fatal red-light running crashes in large cities by 21%.

Please direct staff to continue researching the implementation of red light cameras in Encinitas.

Thank you,
Joy Sheppard
From: Jenny Merino
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red light cameras
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 3:14:47 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Hello,
I am a resident of Encinitas. As a wife of a native Encinitan, I have listened to my husbands frustrations with gentrification and the growth of his, once small, slow coastal town. We understand small towns grow. Obviously people want to move here. And they have. With that growth brings even more cars, traffic, tourism..etc. I’m asking you to keep the conversation open in regards to red light cameras. I have, in the past week, witnessed 3 cars run reds on Encinitas blvd. 2 at the 101, and 1 at El Camino Real…and these were ALL very late reds. People are in such a hurry and so distracted that they can’t be bothered with lights. It’s time to reinforce the law. We don’t have enough Sheriff to enforce traffic citations and, frankly, that’s not where I think they’d be used best. I read somewhere that the highest percentage of our red light tickets were handed to non-residents. Is this true?? Let’s make people aware that Encinititas can still be that slow coastal town. Put up the cameras and it won’t take long for people to slow on yellow lights and learn to breathe.

From: Tomas Pineda
To: City Clerk
Subject: Support the Red Light Camera Pilot — Before Another Child Is Killed- Item 12B Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 5:38:45 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor and Members of the Encinitas City Council,
I am writing as a resident and business owner to strongly urge you to support the red light camera pilot program and direct staff to move it forward without delay. This is not an abstract policy debate. In our city, a 12-year-old — Emery Chalekian — was struck and killed in 2025 by a driver who ran a red light. Emery was one of three teenagers killed while walking or biking on Encinitas streets in just three years. Our children are dying at our intersections, and the Council has the power to do something about it tonight.

We are not being asked to gamble on an unproven idea. Encinitas already ran a red light camera program, and our own City Traffic Engineer measured the results: a 45% reduction in accidents at El Camino Real and Encinitas Boulevard, and a 32% reduction at El Camino Real and Olivenhain Road/Leucadia Boulevard. Those are our intersections and our numbers. Then, in 2020, we shut the program down.

I know the objections that ended it — the old system was clumsy, citations required a clear photo of the driver's face and often got dismissed, and residents raised fair concerns about privacy and fairness. But those objections no longer apply. Senate Bill 720, the Safer Streets Act, took effect this year and fixes every one of them. Red light violations are now civil infractions, like a parking ticket. First-time fines start at $100. Citations go to the registered owner of the vehicle — no facial photo, no dismissed tickets, no surveillance of drivers. The law was rebuilt specifically to remove the problems that shut us down last time.

We cannot station an officer at every intersection. Cameras can be there — impartially, 24 hours a day — and the evidence is overwhelming that drivers slow down and pay attention when they know cameras are watching. Our neighbors in Del Mar and Solana Beach never gave theirs up. Meanwhile pedestrian deaths across San Diego County have surged nearly 78% since 2009. The danger is not theoretical. It is on our streets right now.

The Mobility and Traffic Safety Commission has already recommended bringing these cameras back. Please finish the job. Support the pilot program. Give our kids the protection Emery didn't have.

Respectfully,
Tommy Pineda
Encinitas Resident & Business Owner
From: Mike Davis
To: City Clerk
Subject: Red Light Camera
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 9:55:03 PM
CAUTION: External Email. Do not click any links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender, verified their email address, and know the content is safe.

I support the red light camera initiative in Encinitas in an effort to curtail pedestrian accidents.

Mike Davis
Encinitas resident since 1997.

Sent from my iPhone

Encinitas City CouncilSeptember 16, 2026

Encinitas City Council
September 16, 2026