Modesto’s roads are getting a little more watchful thanks to the city’s new red light camera program, which went live in mid-April. Suddenly, intersections that used to be mere stops are now hot zones for tickets, with more than 250 drivers caught running red lights. That’s a lot of folks getting a pricey lesson on why it pays to stop at red!
The Modesto Police Department did a terrific job rolling out this program with a 30-day warning period. If drivers find themselves caught on camera during that time, they’re alerted by a notice in the mail rather than an immediate ticket. It’s friendly, but it doesn’t mean you can just ignore that red light after the grace period turns into a green light for fines!
At $485 a pop, these citations represent a serious deterrent for would-be light runners. The officials stress that the ultimate goal isn’t just to generate a stack of fines but instead, to make the roads safer for everyone as they navigate through these intersections.
It seems the cameras are here to stay, catching those who might think the rules don’t apply to them, while the rest of us can get home without the fear of an unexpected pitstop to hand over our hard-earned cash. So, if you’re driving in Modesto anytime soon, remember: when you see red, stop instead of accelerating into trouble!
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
