Plakon Seeks to Put Brakes on Red Light Cameras

Florida Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, wants to repeal a 2010 state law that allows tickets to be issued by those caught on camera running red lights.

On Tuesday, Plakon filed a bill that would remove the provisions that allow the Florida Department of Highway, Safety and Motor Vehicles, along with counties and municipalities, to use traffic infraction detectors to enforce when drivers fail to stop at traffic signals.

A similar effort sponsored by Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey, failed to move through the Senate last year.

Plakons effort, HB 4177, has yet to receive a Senate backer, something that may keep the emotional issue from moving forward in House committees.

In the 2011 session, law enforcement cautioned legislators that removing the cameras would make the intersections more dangerous. Meanwhile, with fines starting at $158, revenue estimates at the time indicated the cameras would generate $86 million for the state in the current year, with municipalities picking up another $71 million.