Red Light Ticket Rebates Offered To 672 Drivers

FREMONT, CA — If you received a red light ticket in Fremont between the dates of Feb. 1 and April 7, 2016 at one of two intersections, you may receive a rebate. The intersections are on Mowry Avenue at Farwell Drive and Blacow Road.

The City of Fremont is offering the partial rebates to 672 drivers because of a change in the length of yellow lights. In July 2015, the City’s Public Works Department increased the yellow time interval from 4.0 seconds to 4.7 seconds. In February 2016, the yellow time was changed back to 4.0 seconds and in October 2016 it was changed again to 4.7 seconds.

“At that time, the City was conducting separate traffic engineering studies along the Mowry corridor to update traffic signal yellow times to conform with new State rules, validate designated speed limits, and coordinate traffic signals for improved efficiency,” said Hans Larsen, Fremont Public Works Director. “The different efforts led to the fluctuations in the yellow time. We have confirmed that the required minimum yellow time is 3.9 seconds, so the signals have always operated with yellow times above the minimum requirements. We acknowledge and regret that shortening the yellow time in February 2016 may have surprised some people who had gotten used to a longer yellow light.”

While the citations were legally issued, Fremont has opted to rebate its portion of revenue from the tickets for the first two months after the yellow time had been shortened. A typical red-light running citation has a cost of $490, for which Fremont receives $147.

“While running red lights is a serious safety issue, we are taking this step to offer a fair resolution to those who received a traffic ticket during that time period at those particular intersections,” said City Manager Fred Diaz.

The City of Fremont Public Works Department recently sent a total of 672 letters to individuals who received citations and paid their fines for red-light running violations at the Mowry Avenue intersections. If you think that you're owed a rebate and did not receive a letter, there's information on the city's website under Red Light Camera Program.

— Image by Renee Schiavone, Patch

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