Red Light Camera News Red light legislation would drastically change camera law
http://www.wbir.com/news/article/153543/2/Red-light-legislation-would-drastically-change-camera-law
Red light legislation would drastically change camera law
8:24 PM, Jan 21, 2011 |
They've been shot at, cursed at, and called revenue generating violations of the Constitution by some in East Tennessee. Still, many communities insist red light cameras are making our streets safer.
Lou Johnson is one of those drivers who doesn't welcome the cameras to Knoxville. In town just four months, it hasn't taken him long to notice the extra sets of eyes watching him at 15 different intersections around town.
"I don't think it's good. It's a bad idea. I got a ticket before when I was making a right turn but sometimes even when you do stop you get a ticket for it," Johnson said.
Now, that rolling right turn on red may be on it's way to getting the green light, at least as it relates to the red light cameras.
"It's not the number 1 issue, it's not the budget or something like that but it is something when you walk around and talk to people it's actually on a lot of people's minds and hearts," Stacey Campfield, a Tennessee State Senator from Knoxville said.
The Knoxville Republican is pitching a new law that would put some limits on that video power. A bill he authored in the Tennessee Senate (SB54) calls for citations issued with evidence from the cameras to be invalid for rolling right turns.
The cameras would keep all current power as it relates to drivers who simply blow through a red light, with no turn involved.
Also, Campfield's intent is that officers who still witness violations of the law would have the same enforcement power they currently are granted.
"It's not the people who are blowing through red lights (that are the issue), most people understand giving those people the tickets," Campfield said.
"If you don't stop or slow down and make a right turn--- but if you slow down and don't stop, that would be alright," Johnson said.
A human police officer watches the taped evidence from Knoxville's cameras and ultimately decides if it is worth any citation. Some worry if Campfield's bill becomes law in Tennessee, it could lead to a slippery slope for video evidence in general for criminal cases like armed robberies.
Campfield says that isn't a concern.
"It's never been a criminal matter, it's always a civil matter so we're just saying it'll no longer be a civil manner for right on red," he said.
While some lawmakers initially dove into the red light camera issue during last year's legislative session. This year, Campfield believes the momentum and public support are there to make some change to the system a reality.
"I think there is going to be some movement on it this year where last year there wasn't the initiative to do it," he said.
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