AUBURN, Wash. -- One local city is trying to get the safety benefits of red light cameras without actually using the technology at every intersection, but a member of the city council says the city is being deceptive.
In Auburn, many of the city's intersections are marked with signs that read, "Photo safe." Drivers who see those signs might assume those intersections are equipped with red light cameras, but they would be wrong.
"It's kind of intimidation. It's not full disclosure," said Auburn City Council member Largo Wales.
Wales wants the signs to come down.
"You could easily get them confused and think those are photo enforced intersections also," she said.
The city does have several intersections with red light cameras, as well as cameras to tag speeders in school zones. Police say violations are way down since the cameras went up.
"In school zones they are down as much as 80 percent," said Auburn PD's Bob Karnofski. ""And at the intersections that we've had we've not had a fatal accident until this has gone into play."
Wales is not against the use of photo enforcement, but she doesn't think the city should be posting signs where there are no cameras.
"And then to expand that when you're really not, it's just misrepresentation," she said.
Most drivers know the signs are just there to get their attention.
"Even if there isn't a camera there it lets you know the intersections are being monitored. I think it's a good idea," said driver Clyde Thureninger.
But there's another twist: Violations are down so much at the photo enforced intersections that the city is losing ticket revenue.
"We're losing about $14,000 - $15,000 a month," Wales said.
Wales said she's willing to pay that price to keep the streets safe, but she says she wants the city to be honest.
Wales has put in an officials request to have the "Photo Safe" signs taken down. She hopes the council takes up the issue at its July meeting.
In Auburn, many of the city's intersections are marked with signs that read, "Photo safe." Drivers who see those signs might assume those intersections are equipped with red light cameras, but they would be wrong.
"It's kind of intimidation. It's not full disclosure," said Auburn City Council member Largo Wales.
Wales wants the signs to come down.
"You could easily get them confused and think those are photo enforced intersections also," she said.
The city does have several intersections with red light cameras, as well as cameras to tag speeders in school zones. Police say violations are way down since the cameras went up.
"In school zones they are down as much as 80 percent," said Auburn PD's Bob Karnofski. ""And at the intersections that we've had we've not had a fatal accident until this has gone into play."
Wales is not against the use of photo enforcement, but she doesn't think the city should be posting signs where there are no cameras.
"And then to expand that when you're really not, it's just misrepresentation," she said.
Most drivers know the signs are just there to get their attention.
"Even if there isn't a camera there it lets you know the intersections are being monitored. I think it's a good idea," said driver Clyde Thureninger.
But there's another twist: Violations are down so much at the photo enforced intersections that the city is losing ticket revenue.
"We're losing about $14,000 - $15,000 a month," Wales said.
Wales said she's willing to pay that price to keep the streets safe, but she says she wants the city to be honest.
Wales has put in an officials request to have the "Photo Safe" signs taken down. She hopes the council takes up the issue at its July meeting.