Sustain Charlotte urges Charlotte to restore red-light cameras after The Plaza hit-and-run killing Lance Sotelo

A fatal crash reignites debate over automated intersection enforcement

Traffic safety advocates are pressing Charlotte leaders to bring back red-light cameras following the death of 25-year-old pedestrian Lance Andreas Jesus Sotelo in a hit-and-run crash on The Plaza.

Police said the crash occurred around 5:47 p.m. on January 14, 2026, in the 3300 block of The Plaza. Investigators said a white Chevrolet Impala traveling southwest approached the intersection at East 36th Street, ran a red light and struck Sotelo. The driver continued southwest and left the scene. Sotelo was pronounced dead at the scene.

What advocates are asking City Council to do

Sustain Charlotte, a local transportation and land-use advocacy nonprofit, is urging the City of Charlotte to adopt an ordinance authorizing red-light cameras and to place cameras at intersections with a history of serious crashes. The group argues that red-light running is a recurring problem on Charlotte streets and that automated enforcement can complement roadway design changes and traditional policing.

In a public call issued January 18, the organization pointed to statewide crash-tracking data indicating more than 3,000 intersection-related crashes in Mecklenburg County from 2019 through October 2025 where disregarding a traffic signal was listed as a primary contributing factor, involving nearly 9,000 people.

Why Charlotte ended its camera program—and what changed legally

Charlotte previously used red-light cameras but ended the program in the mid-2000s after court rulings involving traffic-camera revenues. Under North Carolina’s constitutional and statutory framework, the “clear proceeds” of certain penalties are directed to public schools, and earlier interpretations created financial uncertainty for municipalities that relied on citation revenue to cover vendor contracts and program administration.

The legal landscape shifted in 2024, when the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld a reimbursement model used elsewhere in the state that allowed reasonable operating costs for red-light camera programs to be paid while still directing remaining proceeds to local public schools. Safety advocates say that decision removes a key obstacle that contributed to Charlotte’s earlier program being discontinued.

What a modern program could look like

Advocates are pressing for a structure designed to avoid profit incentives by limiting use of camera revenue to program expenses and transferring remaining funds to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in line with state requirements. Key elements being discussed publicly include:

• Strategic placement at high-crash or “high injury” intersections rather than broad deployment
• Clear operational cost accounting to meet state legal standards
• Integration with other safety measures such as signal timing changes, visibility improvements and intersection redesigns

Where the issue stands

No city vote has yet reinstated red-light cameras in Charlotte. The renewed push sets up a policy debate balancing enforcement, funding rules, privacy concerns and the effectiveness of cameras in changing driver behavior. The fatal crash on The Plaza has intensified calls for action, while any future program would require council approval and a legally compliant financial structure.

If you have information about the January 14, 2026 crash on The Plaza, police have asked witnesses to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers.