Idaho Stop—Meet the California Stop

There are probably more differences than similarities between the Idaho and California stop proposed legislation: one is local, applying to San Francisco only, the other is state legislation. One would waive the ticket, the other merely reduces the fine. And of course, one applies to bikes, the other to motor vehicles.

But what they share in common is that in each case, the legislation applies to vehicles which do not make a "complete stop," currently illegal for both bikes at stop signs and motorists making a permitted "right on red."

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has vowed to veto the San Francisco "Idaho Stop" proposal, which has majority, but not veto-proof, support among the Board of Supervisors.

Senate Bill 681, authored by Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) cruised through the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on Jan. 12, receiving unanimous support "before being referred to the Appropriations Committee," writes Samantha Weigel of the Daily Journal.

Hill’s Senate Bill 681 proposes reducing the current base amount of the violation to $35 instead of the current $100, an amount typically reserved for dangerous maneuvers like speeding in excess of 25 mph. Straight through red light and left turn on red violations would remain subject to the $100 base fine, according to Hill’s office. 

Hill emphasized he’s not advocating that the law shouldn’t be enforced, but that the penalty shouldn’t be excessive or overly burdensome — particularly as statistics show few accidents are caused by the infraction.

Weigel provides data, though somewhat dated, to back up that last point:

Of the 6.3 million crashes nationwide in 1998, less than .04 percent involved a driver making a right turn on a red light, according to a 2001 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study. Yet the majority of red light cameras tickets in many cities, particularly San Mateo and Los Angeles, are issued to drivers making slow-moving right turns, according to Hill.

A review of past Planetizen posts on red light cameras shows the vast majority aimed at either eliminating or supporting the use of red light cameras. Considering that use of these controversial cameras "has been in decline since 2013," wrote Daniel C. Vock for Governing last March, a reduced fine for illegal right-hand turns may not be such a bad thing if it prevents more cities from eliminating them all together.