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RED LIGHT CAMERA BILL HAS THE GREEN
LIGHT
From THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA:
A bill that would create a statewide standard for the
use of cameras to catch red light runners is ready for a
final vote in the House and the president of the Senate
said Thursday he's optimistic about the measure.
The bill (HB 325) gained preliminary approval Thursday
in the House after approval of an amendment setting out
two sets of earmarks for the fines that would be
collected.
Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. Ron Reagan,
R-Bradenton, camera traffic tickets issued by cities and
counties would see $75 of the $158 fine, with the rest
going to the state. Tickets issued by cameras on state
roads would see more of the money go to the state,
though the fine for the scofflaw would be the same,
$158.
A competing measure (HB 1235) goes the other way -
rather than clarifying that the cameras are legal and
standardizing the fines, it would ban the cameras. That
measure is also awaiting a final vote in the House.
(this bill has since died in committee)
The bill that was put in position Thursday for a vote -
which could come as early as Friday - calls for
streaming video and a still photo to be made available
to be viewed by the driver later if they want. No
citation would be able to be issued without a law
enforcement officer’s approval – camera vendors wouldn’t
just send the tickets out, under the bill. And people
who are caught on camera turning right on red without
fully stopping would get the benefit of the doubt - no
tickets would be issued for people who turn right on red
in a “careful and prudent” manner even if the driver
fails to fully stop.
A few communities around Florida have installed the
cameras - though Florida law has been silent on their
use. The communities have gotten around the problem that
traffic laws are reserved to the state by making the
fines civil code violations rather than traffic law
violations.
The effort to give cities clear authority to install
cameras to capture images and later ticket motorists who
run red lights has failed to win legislative approval
for five years.
But Senate President Jeff Atwater said Thursday that the
bill may pass this time.
“This may finally be the year,” said Atwater, R-North
Palm Beach. “I think it’s going to happen. END
Here's the Bill
HB 325 GENERAL BILL by Finance & Tax Council and Roads,
Bridges & Ports Policy Committee and Reagan
(CO-SPONSORS) Ambler; Anderson; Brisé; Ford; Frishe;
Heller; Homan; Hooper; Horner; Hudson; Jenne; Kriseman;
Pafford; Porth; Rader; Roberson, K.; Roberson, Y.;
Rogers; Schultz; Steinberg; Tobia; Van Zant Uniform
Traffic Control: Preempts to state use of cameras to
enforce traffic laws; authorizes counties &
municipalities to use traffic infraction detectors under
certain circumstances; creates Mark Wandall Traffic
Safety Program; authorizes DHSMV, county, or
municipality to use traffic infraction detector to
identify motor vehicle that fails to stop at traffic
control signal steady red light, etc. Effective Date:
July 1, 2010 Last Event: Signed by Governor -Thursday,
May 14, 2010 |
