As part of the Palm Springs Police Department’s recently launched Operation Desert Zero, an effort to reduce driving-related incidents in high-risk areas, a red light enforcement was conducted that yielded more than a dozen violations for motorists, police said Monday.
Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills reported on social media Friday that there was an “epidemic of people running red lights in Palm Springs” and the department’s Traffic Division utilized a drone to perform red light enforcement.
“Waiting for the final results but a lot of people walked away with a yellow piece of paper and a court date,” Mills added.
There were 23 red-light violations at the intersection of Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino, a primary location for red-light violations, Capt. Gustavo Araiza told City News Service Monday. Police issued a total of 37 citations for running red lights on Friday, with an additional 14 attributed to speed violations.
The operation is a zero-tolerance initiative to enhance traffic safety that launched earlier this month in response to a pedestrian fatality in January and from ongoing concerns about traffic safety from community members. The operation was build on a community workshop hosted by Sgt. Jason Lamb.
“Operation Desert Zero represents our commitment to zero tolerance for behaviors than endanger lives on our roads,” Lamb said in a statement.
The operation concentrates on three primary collision factors — DUI, speeding and right-of-way violations. The recent red-light enforcement falls within the right-of-way factor, Araiza said.
Monthly data regarding operation results will be compiled and shared on the department’s Facebook page and Nextdoor app in the near future, he added.