Red-light cameras will go into effect at two busy intersections in Belmont on Thursday morning, a first for the city, a police captain said Monday.
"We really hope that it improves traffic safety," Belmont police Capt. Dan DeSmidt said, adding that the two locations selected -- eastbound Ralston Avenue at El Camino Real and westbound Ralston Avenue at Old County Road -- are main thoroughfares in Belmont.
The red-light cameras will be turned on at midnight Wednesday, but DeSmidt said no one will receive a citation for at least the first 30 days, only warnings.
He said the project has been in the works since 2006, and the Police Department will evaluate the red-light cameras after the first month to determine their effectiveness.
The locations were selected due to the difficulty of enforcing traffic safety with police cars and motorcycles. DeSmidt said there are no parking lots or places for officers to monitor the streets there.
Other cities in San Mateo County where red-light cameras have been installed include Redwood City, Menlo Park, San Carlos, Burlingame, San Mateo and South San Francisco, according to DeSmidt.