New Bill Would Turn Off Red Light Cameras
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - Since its inception, red light cameras have been a hot topic among politicians and drivers all across the state of Florida. Now, a House Republican has filed a bill that would repeal the state laws that authorized the red light cameras at intersections across the state.
Last week, Florida Rep. Frank Artiles, Miami, filed the bill which takes aim at cameras used to issue tickets to vehicles caught on camera running red lights.
The bill is similar to a measure filed earlier by Sen. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg.
Both proposals would repeal the state's red-light camera law, the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act of 2010.
The law was signed by former Governor Charlie Crist and is named after Mark Wandall, a man who was killed by a red-light runner in 2003.
When Brandes filed his bill last month, he indicated that he believes that red-light cameras have become a revenue source for local governments.
"We have had red light cameras in Florida for over three years. They were initially sold as safety devices, but I have come to firmly believe that they are now being used as backdoor tax increases," Brandes said in a news release.
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