Police document 58 violators, 46 warnings

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Police issued 46 warnings to drivers who failed to stop at a red light in the intersection of North Stratford Road and Valley Road during the first week of photo-enforcement.

For the next three weeks the department will only issue warnings to violators at the intersection to educate them on the new enforcement system, Capt. Jim Jenkins said. A $101 citation is issued to offenders after the three weeks are up.

The photo-enforcement system entails sensors in the ground to detect when vehicles run a red light. Once the sensor is notified, three photos are taken of the vehicle and a citation is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.

During the first week, 58 red light violators were documented, he said. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday the most offenses occurred, Jenkins added.

"On four instances, the light had been red for over two seconds when the violator entered the intersection," he noted. "At speeds of 35 miles per hour, drivers could experience serious injuries as a result of a collision."

Running a red light puts the offender and other drivers at risk, he said.

The department is continuing their red-light emphasis patrols.