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Red Light Camera News Missouri Legislators look to outlaw RLC
Red Light Camera News Missouri Legislators look to outlaw RLC
Stephen Donaldson
Mar 04
|11:35
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100304/NEWS01/3040404/1007
Missouri legislators look at an outright ban of red light cameras
Chad Livengood • News-Leader • March 4, 2010
Jefferson City -- A Missouri Supreme Court ruling putting the brakes on Springfield's red light cameras has given some legislators a green light to outlaw photo enforcement systems altogether.
"With this court decision, I think there will be renewed interest," said Sen. Jim Lembke, a St. Louis Republican and one of the fiercest critics of red light cameras in the legislature.
"At least I hope my colleagues would be receptive to addressing the constitutional and statutory concerns that I've been voicing for two years," Lembke said.
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Springfield must allow drivers to appeal $100 red light camera tickets through municipal or circuit courts. The city has been handling appeals outside of the criminal courts system with a municipal judge who served as an administrative hearing officer.
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Lembke has criticized red light camera ticketing systems because of the way tickets are distributed -- without giving drivers a chance to defend themselves in court, like a regular moving violation would allow.
Several lawmakers from across the state want to require that cities forward red light camera violations to the state Department of Revenue so that drivers can have points assessed to their licenses. That's what happens when drivers are caught running a red light by a police officer.
The Senate transportation committee will hold a hearing March 17 on Lembke's main red light camera bill, which would outright ban cities from using them to enforce traffic violations.
But there are questions about whether any legislation could get passed this year in the Senate, where legislation can be blocked by a lack of political will by a majority of senators to override a filibuster.
Senators have stances on red light cameras ranging from not regulating them to banning them altogether.
"I don't think I can get regulations through the Senate," said Sen. Bill Stouffer, transportation committee.
Stouffer said he's conflicted about the issue because he doesn't like the way cities are operating the ticketing system.
"On the other hand, accidents are going down and people's lives are being saved," said Stouffer, a Saline County Republican.
On Wednesday, the Senate briefly debated an amendment from Lembke to a transportation bill to regulate red light cameras, but not ban them.
Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, doesn't want to pass regulations for red light cameras because he says that would legitimize them.
"I don't believe in red light cameras," Crowell said Wednesday on the Senate floor, addressing the court's ruling on Springfield's camera system.
Lembke withdrew the amendment after Crowell made it clear he would block any bill that recognizes the camera systems in law.
"I would just as soon from this point on to get rid of them," Crowell said.
Several lawmakers from across the state want to require that cities forward red light camera violations to the state Department of Revenue so that drivers can have points assessed to their licenses. That's what happens when drivers are caught running a red light by a police officer.
The Senate transportation committee will hold a hearing March 17 on Lembke's main red light camera bill, which would outright ban cities from using them to enforce traffic violations.
But there are questions about whether any legislation could get passed this year in the Senate, where legislation can be blocked by a lack of political will by a majority of senators to override a filibuster.
Senators have stances on red light cameras ranging from not regulating them to banning them altogether.
"I don't think I can get regulations through the Senate," said Sen. Bill Stouffer, transportation committee.
Stouffer said he's conflicted about the issue because he doesn't like the way cities are operating the ticketing system.
"On the other hand, accidents are going down and people's lives are being saved," said Stouffer, a Saline County Republican.
On Wednesday, the Senate briefly debated an amendment from Lembke to a transportation bill to regulate red light cameras, but not ban them.
Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, doesn't want to pass regulations for red light cameras because he says that would legitimize them.
"I don't believe in red light cameras," Crowell said Wednesday on the Senate floor, addressing the court's ruling on Springfield's camera system.
Lembke withdrew the amendment after Crowell made it clear he would block any bill that recognizes the camera systems in law.
"I would just as soon from this point on to get rid of them," Crowell said.
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