Hialeah Senator Introduces Bill to Ban Red Light Cameras in Florida

[Freddie Stubbs]

State Senator Rene Garcia is our new hero. The Hialeah Republican has introduced a bill in the state legislature that would effectively ban the use of red light cameras and has called them a "big-brother initiative." It's probably one of the few times when a Republican from Hialeah and the ACLU can actually agree on something.

"It is an unwarranted, big-brother initiative," said Garcia in a release. "We need to ensure that citizens are treated fairly, and this bill will protect Floridians from intrusive snapshots and inaccurate ticketing. Local governments have used these cameras to tax their citizens under the disguise of safety."

The rise of red light cameras in Florida comes as many local governments find themselves strapped for cash, and the tickets collected from some of these cameras can bring in millions of dollars a year.

Garcia cites a study by the National Motorist Associated that he says proves "red light cameras do not create a significant improvement to traffic flow or reduction to the number of accidents." However, a study released last week by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety claims that they reduce the "rate of fatal red light running crashes by 24 percent."

more: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/02/hialeah_senator_introduces_bil.php