Legislative News Lawmaker: There will be an anti-red light camera bill
Lawmaker: There will be an anti-red light camera bill
By JEFF SCHMUCKER | Hernando Today
Published: October 11, 2011
Updated: 05:33 pm
BROOKSVILLE While red light cameras are expected to go up around March of next year, residents can also expect another fight in the Legislature to repeal them statewide.
However, proponents already have doubts they'll receive much support in the Senate.
State Rep. Robert Schenck, R-Spring Hill, said Tuesday that there would be another push to abolish the traffic devices statewide, with an emphasis on the difficulties judges have faced when motorists challenge their tickets in court.
He said he couldn't be the one to file the bill due to his chairing committees, but promised that someone would do so in his stead.
Schenck said one judge determined that police officers couldn't ticket motorists for turning right-on-red since red light camera laws don't allow for it — arguing that it was unconstitutional to punish drivers for the same infraction differently.
He added there are other arguments that the current system unfairly punishes motorists who challenge their tickets. Those who do could pay hundreds of dollars more and have points assessed to their license. Comparatively, just paying the ticket would cost $158.
However, he said once again the Senate will likely not support a measure to repeal the bill — due to what some believe to be beliefs that the cameras discourage red light runners or a hesitancy to lose revenue the state receives from the tickets.
"One of two things is going to happen. Either at some point we're going to repeal this ridiculous law, which I hope to do," Schenck said. "Or we are going to (take away) the incentives for municipalities to put these cameras up by taking away all the revenue or making it costly to do so."
Lawmakers tried a similar proposal last spring by requiring municipalities to perform a study proving a need for the cameras before installing them and prohibit all right-on-red tickets, since a large portion of the tickets were believed to stem from those infractions.
The Senate agreed to neither proposal.
Under the current red light camera bill, motorists receive a fine of $158 — with the state taking an $83 cut. The municipality with the cameras then receives the remaining $75 minus whatever fees it pays to the red light camera vendor.
Prior to the bill's passage, Brooksville received $85 per $125 red light camera ticket with the $40 difference going to a previous vendor.
Other impacts due to the law change include more lax camera enforcement of those who turn right at a red light without stopping. Motorists won't be issued a camera ticket as long as they conduct the turn in a "careful or prudent manner" — a term that was not defined.
However, that same driver might be issued a ticket if a police officer sees him or her turn without stopping first.
Last week, Brooksville City Council members narrowly voted to have 20 cameras reinstalled in Brooksville beginning in March.
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