POLL: Red Light Cameras, Safety Device or Moneymaker?

A new red light camera goes live Tuesday on Calvine Road at the Northbound 99 onramp, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Just like the one Elk Grove police installed at Bond and Elk Grove Florin Roads last month, the new camera entails a 30-day grace period during which violators will receive warning notices. Starting May 31, the sheriff's department will begin issuing citations.

When on the site, we received several comments from readers criticizing them as a moneymaking device for local agencies.

The sheriff's department reports that red light-related crashes have fallen by 28 percent at intersections countywide since the county started using the cameras. Some major cities nationwide have seen accident rates increase since installing the cameras, which critics of the devices cite as ammunition for their case.

Readers, what do you think about red-light cameras?