Another intersection in Chico is now using red light camera footage to issue tickets. It’s at Esplanade and East avenues.
Drivers photographed entering the intersection after the light turns red may receive a $465 ticket in the mail, according to the Chico Police Department (Chico PD). Citations are mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle and include images of the violation.
All intersections have signs that indicate cameras are in use.
Peter Durfee, a lieutenant with Chico PD, said the cameras aren’t meant to catch people off guard.
”It's not a “gotcha moment.” We're not trying to catch people. This isn't about the money. What we want to do is bring awareness to the fact that people are running these red lights,” he said.
Esplanade and East is the third location to begin enforcement since the City of Chico started installing red light cameras this fall.
See a map of all five camera locations below.
Where tickets are currently being issued
As of Dec. 18, tickets are currently being issued at three intersections:
- Esplanade and East avenues
- Esplanade and First avenues
- Mangrove and East Ninth avenues
Other intersections will go live in the coming weeks. The City of Chico provides updates on enforcement locations and timing on its website.
How the cameras work
The cameras capture images of vehicles that enter an intersection after the signal turns red, according to Chico PD. Those images are reviewed before a citation is issued.
Making a right turn on red can also trigger the camera. However, Chico PD says citations should be dismissed if the driver made a full stop before turning.
What to do if you receive a ticket
Drivers who receive a red light citation can use the online citizen portal, which is available 24 hours a day. The portal allows users to:
- Review their violation
- Pay a citation
- Submit an affidavit of nonresponsibility
- Request a refund
Where the money from fines goes
In Butte County, red light camera fines are first sent to the county’s superior court. The total amount is then divided among several state and county funds. The City of Chico receives about 30 percent of the total fine.
