Thought you might find this blog posting from the Tampa/Hillsborough market interesting reading. It appears red light cameras are on their way toward installation in the county just west of us.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
Thought it might be a good time to send out a general update on the progress of photo traffic enforcement legislation (red light cameras) in Florida.
It seems like the months just before the start of a new legislative session brings out limitless optimism from the forces favoring laws to permit photo traffic enforcement. At the same time, opposing forces rally against what they view as intrusive government activity.
So where will it all end in 2008? Nobody knows for sure, but we have some information to share with you as lawmakers get ready for the 2008 legislative session in Tallahassee.
Representative Ron Reagan (R - District 67, Sarasota) has re-filed the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act (HB 351) in the House of Representatives. Senator Mike Bennett (R - District 21, Bradenton) is the sponsor of the companion bill in the Senate (SB 816). Supporters are claiming the bill will get an early hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation, where it was stalled last year.
The STOP! Red Light Running Coalition of Florida is citing a survey conducted in August 2007 that claims 85% of Floridians favor the use of red light cameras. Another 10% oppose such enforcement strategies. These surveys are always subject to close scrutiny for any type of potential bias, so we leave their relevancy and reliability for you to decide.
In keeping up with research on photo traffic enforcement, I recently read an article in a police leadership newsletter on what elements make for a successful enforcement program. You can read the entire article here.
We will keep you posted as this bill makes its way through the Legislature in 2008.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
The use of red light cameras for enforcement purposes in Lakeland is on hold as the legality of their use to issue citations is addressed by the Florida Legislature. Other communities in Florida continue to make news by issuing citations or local fines from the cameras.
Here is a link to a story out of Orange County by Local6.com out about a threatened lawsuit over the cameras use to issue citations.
An activist group is considering filing a lawsuit against the cities of Orlando, Apopka and even Orange County over red-light cameras on roads.
The Florida Civil Rights Association said red-light cameras that photograph and ticket drivers who ignore the signals are unconstitutional.An activist group is considering filing a lawsuit against the cities of Orlando, Apopka and even Orange County over red-light cameras on roads.
-Asst Chief Bill LePere
We received an update yesterday on the legislative progress of HB 1247, a bill to permit municipalities and counties to use traffic enforcement detectors to enforce traffic control devices. That is the legal way of saying red light photo enforcement systems in Florida would become permissible under the law. Currently, the general consensus is the law permits the installation of red light cameras but prohibits municipalities from taking enforcement action with photo evidence.
HB 1247 was heard in the Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Committee on April 19, 2007. It was approved by the committee on a 14 - 0 vote. We are told the bill should move up to the House Policy and Budget Council next Monday.
The City's lobbyist reports there is no real motion on SB 2558, a similar measure filed in the Senate. We will keep you posted as we learn more.
-Asst Chief Bill LePere
In case you missed it, Chuck Welch at LakelandLocal.com posted an informative multi-part series this week on red light cameras. His posts include a step by step introduction into red light cameras and provides readers with links to numerous research studies into the cameras' effectiveness.
Not only will the reader be able to better appreciate the utility of red light cameras, you will also read about Chuck's own field research into the unpredictable nature of red light violations at any given intersection. We will leave you with that tease and urge you to see for yourself what we are talking about.
The editors over at our local newspaper "The Ledger" published an editorial in Sunday's newspaper which addressed the usefulness of red light cameras and their success at reducing crashes.
Red Lights, Camera, Inaction, urges the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee to move forward with legislation to permit the use of photo systems to enforce red light violations. They list the most commonly heard complaints about cameras, including privacy concerns, and also note research that shows red light cameras are more effective than other frequently cited options, such as increasing the length of amber light time. You can read the entire editorial online here, in which the editors concluded...
"Cameras are already in use to catch drivers trying to avoid tolls. They work. Why won't the Legislature let them do their work at intersections as well?"
We support the editorial and remain interested in your views on red light cameras. You can also join The Ledger's red light camera forum and post your comments there.
Thanks to Josh Hallett at empiricalpolk.com for his recent posts on our red light camera project. Several folks have commented to Josh's blog as well as by using e-mail to City Hall and the police department. We appreciate your comments and suggestions, including additional studies we should consider when assessing the effectiveness of red light cameras. Our Planning & Research Section is in the process of reviewing each of the studies offered for our consideration.
The community's feedback, by whatever means we receive your comments, is an essential part of our desire to engage in some public dialogue on the subject. This effort is a key component to our community policing philosophy. We appreciate your comments and suggestions, whether you are in favor of red light cameras or if you oppose them.
It's all part of our commitment to create an informed and engaged community in Lakeland. Thank you for your participation.
- Asst Chief Bill LePere
The Lakeland Police Department gave a workshop presentation to the City Commission at their agenda study session last Friday. The primary issue being addressed was an overview of how red light photo enforcement systems work. A red light photo enforcement system uses still and video cameras to record drivers running red lights at an intersection. The vehicle's registered owner then recieves a municipal fine in the mail rather than a traffic citation and points on a drivers license.
A legal question remains as to whether a municipality, such as Lakeland, can lawfully create an ordinance and subsequently fine a vehicle's owner via a photo enforcement system. The law is not specific in this matter, but the statutes seem to suggest that such a process is not permitted. A couple of Attorney General's Opinions reinforce this view. The Florida Legislature has not been willing to approve any such legislation in recent years.
At their most recent meeting, the City Commission passed a resolution urging the Florida Legislature to change statutes that permit the issuance of citations and fines from red light photo systems. In doing so the Commission joined a growing list of Florida cities seeking to change the law. We appreciate the Commissioners' support, and now want to ask what you think.
Should Florida permit the use of red light photo enforcement systems to improve our efficiency in traffic enforcement efforts?
Bill LePere, Assistant Chief of Police
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