State Legislature Considering Statewide Law Standardizing Use of Red Light Cameras
Our West Palm Beach traffic ticket criminal defense attorneys were disappointed to read that the Legislature is considering making a statewide red light camera law. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported April 26 that the proposed bill would override ordinances already in use in various Florida municipalities, including Pembroke Pines, Hallandale and West Palm Beach. People caught on camera running a red would face a fine of $158, with about half going to the county where the violation took place and half going to the state. The driver would not get any license points, and the matter would be treated as a traffic infraction rather than a crime. The House voted on the proposal Friday and the Senate was expected to take up a similar bill on the day of the article.
The sponsors of the bill say it will save lives by reducing the number of people who run red lights. In fact, it’s named for Mark Wandall, who was killed at the age of 30 in 2003 when another driver ran a red light at 50 mph. However, opponents say the bill, and all red light camera laws, is intended primarily to generate more money for the state and municipalities. They point to projections saying the cameras would generate $39.3 million in their first year, then bring in $160.5 million -- more than three times as much -- by 2013-2014. Each ticket would generate $75 for local governments and $70 for the state, as well as smaller donations to other state funds. If a local government contracts with DHSMV to run the cameras, it would get $45 and the state would get $100. If the bill passes, municipalities with their own red-light cameras would have until July 2011 to meet its standards.
As Fort Lauderdale traffic offense criminal defense lawyers, we’re afraid we agree that the red-light cameras are more about making money than public safety. In fact, traffic safety researchers have conducted studies concluding exactly that. A 2008 report from the University of South Florida College of Public Health found that red light cameras actually increase accidents because motorists stop suddenly when the light changes, triggering a rear-end crash. The researchers said the auto insurance industry backs the cameras because they increase insurance premiums and thus the insurers’ profits. Another report, by the U.S. House of Representatives, found that red-light camera timers are often set too short to increase the numbers of tickets. And of course, the state law allows the state to rake in 40% or more of the revenues generated by red light camera tickets, whereas previously it had no share at all of most cities’ revenues.


