SAN ANTONIO, Texas — While state lawmakers are pushing to ban red light cameras, the Leon Valley Police Department has seen the number of crashes go down and overall crime decreasing in the area in the months since the installation of the polarizing technology.
Leon Valley's red light cameras were up and running January 2018. Since then, the department has issued more than 72,200 tickets.
"Only 6% of those are Leon Valley residents," Lt. David Anderson said. "I was quite stunned when the numbers started coming in the first months."
He said the camera system has primarily helped the department reroute its resources, allowing officers flexibility to return to patrolling neighborhoods instead of babysitting Bandera Road, notorious for its constant traffic.
"All of our burglary and theft offenses are down," Lt. Anderson said. "On-site arrests and or other arrest are up over 50 percent in Leon Valley."
The system is designed to take two photographs of a vehicle that may be committing a violation, as well as a 12-second video that shows before and after the driver crosses the white line at intersections.
Anderson said people call the police station regularly, claiming a camera is going off and taking pictures when a driver is just sitting at the light. As it turns out, he says, there are things other than drivers that will trigger the cameras.
There are three type of "rejections": non-liability, such as emergency crews or a funeral procession; non-controllable, which in most cases is weather-related; and controllable factors like equipment failure.
"24% of (citations) are all rejected for one reason or another." Anderson said.
The most dangerous intersection, where drivers are ticketed the most for running the red light, is Grissom and Bandera Road.
"It's simple. Don't run the red light," Anderson said.
People who have been issued a ticket can review the video here.
The fine is $75 for each offense.