July 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Broken Traffic Cameras Posing Safety Risks

traffic camera
About 150 of 500 cameras in Los Angeles are reportedly broken. (Thinkstock)

Almost 150 of the 500 traffic cameras throughout Los Angeles are broken, posing a public safety risk and hampering traffic management, City staffers told a Council committee today.

“We are handicapped in being able to monitor traffic,” City transportation engineer Sean Skehan said during a Public Safety Committee meeting. “Situations develop and we are not able to address them.”

Skehan said the number of failed traffic cameras has continued to grow ever since City officials began looking into the Automated Traffic Surveillance Control system one year ago as part of the effort to strengthen surveillance and public safety capabilities in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing.

The cameras failed due to age and exposure to “wind and rain and other elements,” Skehan said.

The traffic camera failures also pose a risk to public safety, Sgt. Dan Gomez told the committee.

In addition to being used for day-to-day traffic monitoring, the traffic cameras are employed during special events and emergencies to coordinate and manage response, according to a Transportation Committee report.

Councilwoman Nury Martinez, a member of the Public Safety Committee, expressed alarm when told 15 traffic cameras in her district no longer work, including one at Roscoe and Van Nuys boulevards.

“About two months ago, the Daily News called Roscoe (Boulevard) and Van Nuys Boulevard one of the most dangerous intersections in the San Fernando Valley,” she said.

The camera at that intersection “has been out for awhile,” staff informed her.

Staff said they have yet to look into whether crime and other incidences spiked at locations where traffic cameras stopped working.

The committee on May 23 signed off on a nine-month, $750,000 contract with Siemens Industry, Inc., to perform emergency replacement of the traffic cameras.

The new cameras would be more “robust” and shielded from the weather, Skehan said.

The contract requires the approval of the full City Council to be awarded.

Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...