Traffic Effort Targets Red-Light Violations

Racing through Beverly Hills? You better watch those red lights.

The city has launched a red-light enforcement system that automatically photographs vehicles that zoom through intersections. After a 30-day warning period, police will issue citations to the owners of the vehicles based on the photographs.

The system was installed at Wilshire and North La Cienega boulevards, one of the spots Beverly Hills police say has the highest number of accidents because of red-light violations. Another enforcement system will be installed at Santa Monica and Wilshire boulevards.

The city adopted the one-year test program in an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents caused by drivers running red lights. Officials said that an enforcement system based on photographs is safer than the traditional method, which involves a police officer chasing a motorist through a red light.