Legislative News NC: Red-light camera ban zips through panel vote
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110406/ARTICLES/110409772?p=all&tc=pgall
Red-light camera ban zips through panel vote
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By Patrick Gannon
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Published: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 2:18 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 2:18 p.m.
( page all of 2 )
A bill to ban red-light cameras from the state breezed through the Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday morning with no opposition.
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No officials from the city of Wilmington, which operates 13 red-light cameras, attended the committee hearing. No committee members spoke against the proposal.
The full Senate may consider the bill as early as Thursday, said Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, who supports the bill. It would then go to the House for consideration.
Sen. Don East, R-Surry, the bill's primary sponsor, said as a former city cop in Winston-Salem he has always opposed the cameras. Now he wants to ban them.
"When you get a traffic infraction, you ought to be able to cross-examine someone," East said after the committee meeting.
East also said some studies show the cameras don't prevent accidents at intersections and may even increase them. Both East and Rabon said they had heard no opposition from Wilmington.
Calls to several city officials weren't immediately returned Wednesday morning.
The bill would make it illegal to operate a traffic-control photographic system in North Carolina. A violation would be a Class 1 misdemeanor and the forfeiture of any camera equipment used for traffic control.
Thirteen red-light cameras work at intersections in Wilmington, issuing $50 tickets to motorists who run red lights or turn right on red without making a complete stop.
The city issued 16,469 citations in 2010 for red-light violations, according to city data.
While some other cities in North Carolina discontinued their camera programs in the wake of a court ruling requiring most revenue to go to schools, programs in Wilmington and several other municipalities, including Cary and Raleigh, endured.
Although studies differ on the safety benefits of red-light cameras, Wilmington officials have long maintained that the program is about reducing crashes at busy intersections.
Banning cameras from Wilmington would impact funding for New Hanover County Schools, as most of the revenue from the cameras goes to the schools.
The Senate committee also approved a bill aimed at protecting motorcyclists from unsafe movements by other vehicles.
The House has already passed that bill, which increases penalties for drivers who make unsafe movements and cause a motorcycle rider to crash or to have to change travel lanes or leave the road.
Motorists who cause a motorcycle to crash could be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of at least $500. The maximum penalty would be 45 days of community punishment and a fine determined by the court.
Drivers who cause a motorcyclist to swerve out of his lane or off the highway could be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor, with a fine of $200 to $1,000, plus 30 days of community punishment.
Reps. Danny McComas, R-New Hanover, and Dewey Hill, D-Columbus, are co-sponsors of the motorcycle safety bill.
It would take effect Dec. 1.
Patrick Gannon: (919) 836-0889
On Twitter: @StarNewsPat
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