Legislative News Carolinas move to FORBID ticket cameras!
http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Apr11/041111/041111-04.shtml
By Keith Goble, Land Line state legislative editor
State lawmakers in South Carolina and North Carolina are moving forward with efforts to put a stop to the use of cameras to enforce speed limits and traffic-light violations.
In an effort to apply the brakes on a potential speed trap, the South Carolina Senate voted to approve a bill that is intended to put a stop to one town’s use of speed cameras.
A year ago, lawmakers approved legislation that requires tickets based solely on photos to be issued in person within an hour of the alleged violation.
Since then, a community in Jasper County has posted cameras on Interstate 95 to nab speeders. According to reports, the town of Ridgeland has issued more than 8,000 tickets since last summer. An officer is posted nearby inside an RV and the tickets are mailed to the registered owners.
In response, Senate Transportation Chairman Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, offered a bill that would ban tickets based on photos. Police would also be required to directly hand tickets to divers within an hour of a violation.
The bill – S336 – has moved to the House where it is awaiting consideration.
In North Carolina, a bill on the move would put a stop to the use of red-light cameras throughout the state.
Existing law authorizes more than 20 communities throughout the state to use red-light cameras. Violators face $50 fines. However, most of the communities discontinued their programs after a court ruling specified that most of the revenues must be used for education.
The Senate Transportation Committee voted to advance a bill – S187 – to the full Senate that would make it illegal to operate any red-light cameras. About a half-dozen communities still use the enforcement tool.
Communities found in violation of the ban would face misdemeanor charges.
OOIDA leadership is encouraged to see legislative efforts to apply the brakes to use of the enforcement tool. The Association believes the focus on ticket cameras ignores the more logical and reasoned approach to roads and traffic.
“The goal should be to keep traffic moving in as safe a manner as possible,” OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer said.
Spencer said communities would be better served to pursue “intelligent traffic lights that actually monitor traffic and are triggered by traffic flow.”
To view other legislative activities of interest for North Carolina, click here. http://www.ooida.com/Legislative_Watch/2011/NC/NC_new.shtml To view other legislative activities of interest for South Carolina, click here. http://www.ooida.com/Legislative_Watch/2011/SC/SC_new.shtml
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