By Dan Walters, Sacramento Bee

One of San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s first acts this year – before he became preoccupied with other affairs – was to end the use of cameras to catch motorists running red lights, labeling them “the San Diego version of a traffic trap.”

It was the latest in a string of recent setbacks for the devices, indicating that they may be on the way out of California.

Redflex Traffic Systems has dominated the red-light camera industry, claiming they improve safety and persuading cities and counties to install them in return for a share of fines, typically about $500 each.

However, critics say the cameras mostly snag motorists who don’t come to a complete stop before making turns, rather than those running through intersections, and therefore aren’t the lifesavers that boosters claim. Opponents have also accused cities of setting yellow lights at camera- protected intersections on minimal times to ensnare more motorists.

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