Cameras attached to power poles on several intersections near the Humboldt County Courthouse. [Photo sent in by reader.]

UPDATE 7/18: Brittany Kesterson found more information for us! Thanks, Brittany! She explained,

According to City Traffic Engineer Sheila Parrott, the county hired LACO to do an impact study for the possible jail expansion project.  The impact study required pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic to be counted near certain intersections around the jail.  Quality Counts was the company hired.  Cameras were used as opposed to the traffic counter hose to get a count of the pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well.  

…Regarding the red light fine signs being put up around the same time:  Parrott said that the signs were purchased a while ago and are just now being put up.  She said it was just a coincidence they were put up around the same time.  The signs are to remind drivers that running a red light is not only unsafe, it is expensive!   

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Original post below:

When an alert reader spotted these cameras attached to power poles near intersections in the vicinity of the Humboldt County Courthouse, she sent this photo in to us. We started asking questions. By yesterday around 5 p.m., the reader noticed that the cameras had been taken down.

This afternoon, Brittany Kesterson of the Eureka Police Department confirmed that the cameras were there and gave us a somewhat unsatisfactory answer (Sorry, Brittany, usually you are the answer lady but this time we want more.) She said, “We asked the traffic engineers and they appear to belong to a construction or survey group doing a study.”

So, anyone got anything more specific? Note the QC—maybe the words Quality Camera or Quality Control.

We’re curious. Are you?

According to City Traffic Engineer Sheila Parrott, the county hired LACO to do an impact study for the possible jail expansion project.  The impact study required pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic to be counted near certain intersections around the jail.  Quality Counts was the company hired.  Cameras were used as opposed to the traffic counter hose to get a count of the pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well.  Hank Seeman with the county planning department is the lead on this project.   

Regarding the red light fine signs being put up around the same time:  Parrott said that the signs were purchased a while ago and are just now being put up.  She said it was just a coincidence they were put up around the same time.  The signs are to remind drivers that running a red light is not only unsafe, it is expensive!