6 cameras will target left turns

SCOTTSDALE - The city is turning on a new kind of photo enforcement camera at six intersections - this time to catch motorists who run red lights while making left turns.

The first of those intersections, eastbound on Shea Boulevard at 90th Street, will start flashing errant drivers turning left to go north starting Aug. 1.

The other five cameras will be activated after results from the first intersection are analyzed.

The six intersections already are equipped with cameras to monitor through traffic for speed and red-light runners.

But until now, Scottsdale has not activated cameras positioned to photograph motorists running red lights while making left turns.

Sensors imbedded in those intersections have monitored left-turn lanes. The cameras have recorded an average of 440 left-turn violations per month at each location, according to American Traffic Solutions, the city's photo-enforcement contractor.

The typical citation for running a red light is $204.

The cameras will not flash drivers who enter the intersection on a green or yellow light and wait for traffic to clear before they complete a safe left-hand turn. If the light turns red while the driver is in the middle of the intersection waiting, that is OK.

Scottsdale police say making left turns is the most dangerous of all maneuvers for drivers. The goal is to reduce collisions.

The five other intersections slated for activation of the left-turn cameras are:

• Southbound Hayden Road at Indian School Road.

• Eastbound McDowell Road at Scottsdale Road .

• Northbound Scottsdale Road at Thomas Road.

• Southbound Scottsdale Road at Shea Boulevard.

• Northbound Scottsdale Road at Cactus Road.

For questions about photo enforcement, call 480-312-7014 or e-mail photoenforcement@scottsdaleaz.gov.