The first bill to outlaw red light cameras in Florida has already been filed for the next session of the Florida legislature. But unlike the numerous bills that have flopped in previous years, this one has a powerful sponsor. Senator Jeff Brandes is the chairman of the Senate transportation committee.
76 Florida cities use intersection cameras to photograph the tags of vehicles that run red lights. The car owners then get tickets in the mail, usually for $158, and that amount is shared among the city, the state and the company that sells most of the camera systems. Cities say the cameras have made a significant contribution to traffic safety. But Senator Brandes doubts that. "I've come to believe it's become more about increased revenues and a back door tax increase than it is about safety."There is evidence from several cities that the cameras have reduced red light running and intersection collisions. But that has also meant declining revenue for the cities and, sometimes, a decision to discontinue the camera program. Brandes doubts that successful safety programs would be cut just for being unprofitable. It certainly clouds the issue, he says.
"If it's inconclusive, the tie always goes to the taxpayer and we should be keeping the money in the taxpayers pockets", said Brandes.
The city of Pembroke Pines has discontinued its camera program. Not because it was so successful that it snuffed out its own revenue, says Mayor Frank Ortis, but because the money was down enough to require a new revenue sharing deal to be cut with the camera company.
"We want the cameras to be effective and deter speeders and violators and we don't want it to cost us any money", Ortis said.
Industry figures show the average revenue per camera has declined by 50% over its life as drivers learn their lessons, change their ways and - as some lawmakers see it - expose the real motives behind the cameras.