Florida Bill Aims to Ban Red Light Cameras
Are red-light cameras actually working to reduce the drivers’ speeds at intersections?
This is the question raised by Rep. Anthony Sabatini of Lake County, Florida. The Central Florida lawmaker submitted House Bill 6009 for reconsideration. If it passes, it would give Florida communities until 2024 to remove all camera equipment recording drivers who are running red lights.
In years prior, the bill passed the House but not the Senate.
In 2010, Florida’s Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act gave cities and counties power to use cameras that catch red-light runners. They’re installed at intersections and can record license plate numbers of any vehicle that runs a red light and accordingly issue civil citations.
Not all states and counties have RLC programs, but “at its peak in 2014, there were 82 red light programs, including 18 in Central Florida. They generated $130 million for state and local governments. In 2020, it was down to 58 state programs, nine local ones, and $106 million.”
Rep. Sabatini is filing HB 6009 for the third time in as many as years. This year, he’s hoping to finally end the revenue that has “saved zero lives in Florida.”
The argument against RLC programs
In a study done by Florida International University, the raw numbers show little benefit to using red light programs, which actually do more harm than good. According to the study:
“The results from this evaluation suggest that RLC enforcement reduces RLR-related injury collisions but increases rear-end collisions…Results suggest that the effect of RLC’s on right-angle/turning crashes is minimal, even with changes in reporting.”
Florida drivers are still running red lights and even causing accidents in their wake, despite the use of RLCs. Rep. Sabatini has argued since 2010 that the safety of Florida drivers isn’t being helped by these devices and only serves as a source of revenue.
“They are just a taxpayer fraud scheme. They are just a way for local governments to pad their pockets and raise more revenues,” Rep. Sabatini told the Florida Daily.
The pros of red light cameras
According to a recent news article by WESH 2, most drivers they spoke with think RLC programs work despite some data that shows otherwise.
“I think it does make us safer for us because at the end of the day, a lot of people are running the red lights,” Carl Carty said.
“It makes us safer. People watch what they are doing. That’s how I feel,” Euphema Beshear said.
Interestingly, a study done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests that RLCs effectively reduce the number of accidents at intersections. Local law enforcement is still considered the most effective method for catching red-light runners and discouraging this traffic violation, but since they can’t be everywhere at once RLCs are an effective substitute, according to the IIHS.
In order to fill the gaps, RLC programs were introduced and have “reduced the fatal red-light running crash rate of large cities by 21 percent and the rate of all types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 14 percent,” according to the IIHS.
How do red light cameras work?
If a car runs a red light, they pass over a sensor at the intersection which activates an RLC that takes pictures of the front license plate. It can also take up to 12 seconds of video as additional evidence. The violation is then recorded, and an enforcement program mails a citation to the registered owner of the vehicle.
The fine for this violation is $158, which can be raised to $262 if the driver fails to pay the ticket on time. The steep fine, coupled with the possibility of higher insurance premiums and other penalties, is meant to discourage drivers from running red lights, but the debate about their effectiveness is still ongoing.
Soon, HB 6009 will be reviewed and this year Rep. Sabatini hopes he will be successful.
Are you the victim of a red light runner’s negligence?
Red-light cameras can help catch traffic violators, but they can’t help you get your life back together if you are hit by a driver who ran a red light. Red light car accidents can be scary, and victims often suffer from severe injuries and damage to their vehicle because another driver didn’t slow down and stop.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, reach out to an experienced attorney in your area right away.
Not sure how to find the right accident attorney? Browse our short guide on finding an injury lawyer.
