Now is the time to contact Governor Schwarzenegger's office to voice your support for Assembly Bill 909, which will be on his desk by early next week.  If signed into law by the governor, AB 909 will effectively cut state right-turn-on-red (RTOR) traffic fines in half from the current $450 to $500 charged per violation..   

Many California cities have built the financial success of their red-light camera programs on the RTOR violation, which statistically has imperceptible safety implications for drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians.  (According to a 2001 report from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, only about one tenth of one percent of accidents caused by one vehicle cutting into the path of another vehicle were caused by a RTOR violation of a traffic signal.) 

Los Angeles, for example, derives nearly 80 percent of its ticket camera revenue from drivers who don't come to a complete stop at a red light before turning right.  Some communities are reportedly making up to 98 percent of their red-light camera revenue from slow-rolling, or "California," stops.

Odds are strong that you, or someone you know, has received one of these $500 California tickets while making a safe turn.  While AB 909 will not eliminate the RTOR violation, it will at least make the financial impact to motorists a bit more reasonable.

Because Governor Schwarzenegger will have AB 909 on his desk for signature within a few days, send him an email or call his Sacramento office at 916-445-2841 right away to voice support for this important bill for California drivers.