Paradise Valley plans to refund a total of $36,000 to more than 1,000 drivers who received tickets for running a faulty traffic light at Tatum Boulevard and McDonald Drive.

The town sent 1,063 letters June 22 informing drivers ticketed between May 7 and June 17 to expect a full refund of their fines.

The yellow left-turn signal at the intersection lasted only three seconds, but town policy states yellow lights should last 4.5 seconds, Town Manager Jim Bacon said Thursday.

Drivers who paid only a citation will receive a refund of $182. Those who attended defensive-driving school will receive $234.

Public Works Director Andrew Cooper said he planned to investigate whether it was equipment or human error.

"We do not have all the data that we've requested," he said. "We definitely know it was a failure."

Cooper would not reveal the source of the data he had requested.

"I am not at liberty to say," he said.

The town contracts with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. to supply the photo-ticketing technology at three intersections.

Camera enforcement drew complaints when the town installed its first camera at Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Drive in 1997.

The town paid $125,000 for the camera.

One driver who received a ticket after a camera photographed her driving through a red light at Tatum and McDonald questioned whether the town uses the cameras to fill city coffers.

Amelia Velasquez of Phoenix said she thought the extra enforcement was a way for governments to make more money.

"It's an entrapment," she said. "That is what everybody thinks, that these lights are here to make money, because they are getting our money and we can't argue with anybody."

Velasquez received a ticket at Tatum and McDonald in May, and said she was glad the city decided to correct the mistake. She expected to receive $234 and planned to put the money back where it came from: her savings account.

Bacon said the town does not use the heightened enforcement for financial gain, but to ensure greater safety.

Bill Moloney is the program manager for photo enforcement for the Scottsdale police department. He said Scottsdale started using enforcement cameras at intersections in 2008 as a way to condition drivers to adopt new habits.

"If you don't want a ticket, people need to change their driving habits just a little bit," Moloney said. "If the light turns yellow, instead of thinking 'Oh I can make this light,' just stop on yellow."

For every person who runs a red light, five run the left-hand turn light, he said.

The police department noticed a spike in the number of red-light tickets after a camera was installed at Scottsdale and McDowell roads.

In March, Moloney said the city doled out 1,100 red-light tickets, but issued 700 in April - a 36 percent decrease. Moloney said the drop mirrors that seen at other camera-enforced intersections.

Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker said he wondered about the Tatum and McDonald intersection's timing when he almost received a ticket a few weeks ago. He said he isn't a big fan of photo enforcement, but does like the safety benefits.

From January 2008 through December, the town collected $107,847 in red-light tickets from the three intersection cameras. The town has collected $58,820 since January 2009.