Three bills governing red-light cameras appear to be on a collision course.
Two bills authorizing the use of cameras -- HB 325 and its companion, SB 294 -- cleared their committees with just one dissenting vote.
HB 1235, which would prohibit camera use for the purpose of levying fines, passed its first committee Wednesday on a 7-5 vote, with two lawmakers absent.
This session marks the fifth year that Rep. Ron Reagan, sponsor of HB 325, has introduced the enabling legislation.
The Sarasota Republican says his presidential namesake would approve.
"It's a tool for law enforcement. It would be a mistake not to use modern technology," he says.
So far, more than 50 cities and counties across Florida are using cameras to cite motorists who blow through red lights. Several more municipalities have camera contracts pending.
But, a potential roadblock was set up when a Miami-Dade circuit judge voided the city of Aventura's use of red-light cameras without state endorsement.
Rep. Robert Schenck, sponsor of HB 1235, says the court ruling exposes the flaws -- and the real motivation -- of the surveillance program.
Red light cameras are being used by cities and counties to generate huge sums of money to increase falling revenue under the guise of public safety, the Spring Hill Republican said.
Proponents of Schenck's bill say nationwide studies show that the cameras are not effective as a public safety measure. Researchers have found that alternate, and cheaper, countermeasures -- such as longer yellow lights and two-second, all-around-red lights -- do a better job of enhancing safety.
As long as these cameras are in place and generating revenue, cities and counties will not seek other, more effective means of stopping red light runners and providing safer roads for the people of Florida, Schenck stated.
Because traffic fines are set by state law, cities have re-branded red-light running "code violations," allowing municipalities to slap offending motorists with charges of $150 and more.
Reagan said the city of Orlando has used its cameras to nab 37,000 red-light violators in the past eight months. "And, none of those were for people rolling through right turns," he said.
Tallahassee, which plans to install six red-light cameras this year, estimates the devices will yield $800,000 in fines in their first year.
Though Reagan's red-light bills have failed in the past, he likes his chances this year.
"There's more acceptance on the part of the public as cameras are more widely used. A poll taken in January by the Stop Red Light Coalition found 72 percent favored them," Reagan said.
Schenck calls red-light cameras "a money grab." Reagan denies that.
"I will never ignore the revenue side," Reagan said, but he adds that his bill includes provisions for community-wide ad campaigns and posting signs at affected intersections to give motorists fair warning.
