http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/may/12/rep-tom-grady-asks-gov-crist-veto-red-light-bill/?partner=RSS

"Rep/Lawyer Tom Grady has asked Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the red light camera legislation by Saturday's deadline" The Naples Republican, who recently resigned from Crist's U.S. Senate campaign, said the cameras are a money grab for local governments and companies who stand to bring in millions. "This is intrusive and limits freedom," Grady said. "As a lawyer, I'm bothered by the fact that you're guilty before proven innocent." Tickets generated via red light cameras are issued to car owners, not drivers. They have to challenge the system to have the ticket cleared. Collier County drew more than $1 million from red light tickets issued from cameras. The company that provides them to the county for free earned about $500,000. The Florida House of Representatives passed H.B. 325 on April 23 in a 77-33 vote. Grady voted no. Four days later, with a vote of 30-7, the state Senate sent the bill to Crist's desk. The governor has until May 15 to take action on the bill and Grady said he has no idea what direction the governor is leaning. When asked if his letter carried weight since Grady's resignation as Crist's regional campaign chairman, Grady said he'd like to think that wasn't an issue. Grady's letter comes days after AAA Auto Club South, which supports the idea of red light cameras, also asked the governor to veto the bill. "The fact that only 10 percent of the fine revenue is to be used for public safety and health purposes clearly shows that this legislation was more about raising money than improving traffic safety,” said Senior Vice President Kevin Bakewell. Violators can expect to pay $62.50 now, but should the state bill become law, that fee would jump to $158. Grady said red light cameras do not improve safety, they transfer accidents from those caused by running red lights to those caused by slamming on breaks to avoid getting nabbed on film. He said increasing the length of yellow lights and better synchronized would do more to keep drivers safe. There are no provisions in the bill to study its effectiveness, Grady said.

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Title
Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Email
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (registered users only)
	Add Comment Preview