REAL ID Foes Want to Shift Burden of Proof in Red-Light Camera Cases

Another group is jumping into the fight over red-light cameras in Florida.

The libertarian Floridians Against REAL ID has drafted legislation that would make the burden of proof in traffic courts the same as it is in criminal court.

"The Motorist Rights Restoration Act gives each person appearing in traffic court the right against self-incrimination, to confront witnesses, and standardizes evidence presentation in cases involving traffic infraction detectors, including red-light cameras, so they are to the same standard as other cases," said Paul Henry.

"The MRRA establishes the opportunity for a hearing when the original notice is issued without any prepayment of a fine or fee, so there is no secondary ticket with a more severe penalty issued," he said.

The bill -- which does not ban red-light cameras -- would also require that mandatory accuracy checks for the devices be paid for by the camera company and establishes a monetary civil penaltyagainst any firm or government agency that violates the law.

So far, no legislators have stepped forward to sponsor the proposed measure, but state Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-New Port Richey, has said he is examining several options in his ongoing campaign against the use and potential abuses of red-light cameras.