Tucson will tweak its red-light camera at North Oracle and West River roads, but it rejected a proposal Tuesday to make all of the yellow lights in the city one second longer.
The council voted 6-0 to try to adjust the sensors at the intersection so drivers don't pull into the intersection thinking they will get a green arrow that never comes.
The fix is temporary while the city tries to get the state to change its rules on where the intersection begins, to bring the state into compliance with new federal rules.
The issue at River and Oracle is that the intersection has long, sweeping curbs that mean drivers pass the crosswalk well before they reach the legal curb line. As a result, many enter what is technically defined as the intersection after the light turns red.
The council rejected a proposal by Councilman Steve Kozachik to lengthen all the yellow lights citywide by one second, from three seconds to four. Kozachik said a test at River and Oracle with a four-second yellow showed the number of tickets dropped substantially. His motion died for lack of a second.
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Councilwoman Karin Uhlich said the changing the time of the yellow light was a "symbolic gesture" that would not have its intended effect.
"The length of the yellow would have absolutely no impact," Uhlich said, backing the plan to pressure the state to adopt the federal standard, redefining where the intersection starts.
Transportation Director Jim Glock said that when a car advances past the crosswalk and stops before the legal start of the intersection on a green light, then stops to wait for traffic to clear to turn left, existing signal sensors might not know he's there, so the light goes straight to red, with no green arrow. When the driver proceeds through the turn, he gets cited for running the light.
Glock said he will install new sensors in the intersection between the crosswalk and the curb line so the signal knows a vehicle is there and gives it a green arrow.
However, most tickets are issued when there are many vehicles waiting to turn and they are backed up over the existing sensors, so there are questions about how many drivers will be spared a citation.
In other business, the council heard from six of the 11 candidates seeking to succeed Councilman Rodney Glassman in represent Ward 2, with each getting five minutes to state his or her case. Four speakers didn't show up; two of them submitted written comments instead. Another candidate gave her five-minute speech to the council last week. The council is expected to make a selection on May 4.
The council delayed consideration of amending its accounting policy for restricted funds.
Contact reporter Rob O'Dell at 573-4346 or rodel@azstarnet.com
