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LA City Council To Consider Red-Light Camera Proposal

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Los Angeles City Council is expected to consider a proposal Friday to keep red-light cameras at 32 intersections for another year once the current contract expires on July 31.

Councilmen Tony Cardenas and Bernard Parks are expected to ask the Police Comission to keep the cameras on a month-to-month contract.

"The bottom line is it comes down to public safety. Unfortunately, we don't need to make policy based upon what people like or don't like, or enjoy or don't enjoy," Cardenas told KNX 1070.

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"The number one killer of people in passenger cars is 90-degree angle crashes. That's another way of saying people who run red lights or stop signs. So the bottom line is if we can prevent one accident, we can prevent dozens or hundreds of accidents in a year, even thousands… then it's definitely worth it," he added.

Last week the police commission unanimously rejected a proposal by police officials to sign a new contract saying the program is not cost-effective.

Police officials, however, argue the cameras cut the number of traffic accidents and ultimately save lives.

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