Although nearly 50 Florida cities already have installed the cameras (but none, thankfully, in Bay or neighboring counties), state law has prohibited them from being placed on state-owned or maintained property. Furthermore, last year a judge in Palm Beach County ruled that Aventura’s red-light cameras were illegal because only the Legislature can create traffic laws.

Crist’s signature on the bill apparently would make that legal case moot, although the plaintiffs’ lawyer told the Palm Beach Post Tuesday that the lawsuit will proceed on the grounds that the cameras violate the U.S. and Florida constitutions. Nevertheless, if the bill becomes law, expect the number of cameras to multiply across the state as cities embrace the new uniform standards.

Supporters insist the cameras are necessary to improve safety. But there’s no denying that the red-light devices also promise lots of green.

Indeed, in noting that the red-light bill is among several measures in the Legislature advertised as reducing traffic accidents, Cristina Silva of the St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau dryly wrote, “Many of the bills would result in new government fees, an enticing prospect for a state mired in budget reductions.”

No kidding. According to the Orlando Sentinel, a House analysis of the bill estimates Florida would bring in more than $29 million in the first year of the state-authorized cameras. That would jump to almost $95 million a year by 2014. Local governments could get $10 million this year and next and almost $66 million by 2014. The money would be divided among the state’s general fund, local jurisdictions and hospital trauma centers. Cities and counties could receive from $45 to $75 per infraction, depending on who owns the road.

Money often has been at the root of a red-light camera evil: Cities around the nation have been caught shortening the lengths of their yellow lights to create more red-light violations and increase their ticket revenues. (And it’s not just done with cameras. The Detroit News recently reported that several Michigan towns were keeping their speed limits “artificially low” so they can write more tickets and boost revenues.)

There’s no denying that the threat of red-light runners is real. You can regularly see that at several intersections along 23rd Street in Panama City alone. Motorists would be wise to exercise extreme caution before advancing on green. Wait a few seconds and check in both directions before proceeding. That alone will reduce accidents and save lives.

But there are other safety measures government can employ that have proved to be more effective than cameras and which can’t be used as cash cows. These include changes as cheap and simple as lengthening yellow lights.

Gov. Crist should make Florida join the other states and communities that have banned red-light cameras because they are ineffective and prone to abuse. He should veto the bill.