Red light cameras are coming to Eugene, city police Chief Chris Skinner told members of the Police Commission on Thursday evening.

Such technology allows cities to ticket drivers for running red lights. 

But red light cameras “probably, likely won’t, come to this body because it’s [coming] out of public works and traffic engineering [departments],” Skinner said.

Running a red light in Oregon is a Class B traffic violation, which carries a base fine of $265.

The topic came up during a discussion of the police’s use of license-plate reader technology, which has raised privacy concerns. Skinner said that the department had just finished a policy explaining how data would be used. Thursday, the commission moved to formally study the policy with the intent of making formal recommendations after a review.

Skinner also said about 1,000 people attended a rally Wednesday downtown protesting federal immigration enforcement activity.

Police issued one citation in lieu of arrest for someone “climbing up the side” of the courthouse, the chief said. He believed there was only a single arrest with someone taken into custody, for disorderly conduct, which appeared unrelated to the demonstration.

He also said it’s expected Saturday’s “No Kings” protest will be larger than the one Wednesday.

Skinner said the police department follows Oregon’s sanctuary law prohibiting state or local police from assisting with immigration enforcement or using resources to assist with such activity. The issue has gained national prominence after increased immigration enforcement activity under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Skinner drew praise from some commission members for his response to a question from Sean Shivers, vice chair of the commission, about how police would respond to civilians protesting at the scene of active Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

If Eugene police clear out protestors in such a scenario, “how is that not using city resources in the interest of them enforcing immigration?” Skinner said, adding later: “I feel like it’s connected enough to the end result of immigration enforcement that we’re not going to put ourselves in that particular position.” 

But he also said federal authorities can make arrests in such a scenario.

The commission makes recommendations about police department policies.