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Not Quite a Red Light Repeal

March 24th, 2014 by flanews

The Mark Wandall traffic safety act was signed into law in 2010 and is better known as the Red Light Camera law.  Wandall was killed by a driver that ran a red light. His widow came to Tallahassee to remind lawmakers why it was originally approved.

“Red light safety cameras have a human value. One person had to die in order to save others, and that one person was my husband,” said Melissa Wandall.

A House committee heard Representative Frank Artiles bill Monday.  It isn’t a full repeal, but would put restrictions on the revenue stream the cameras take in.

“My bill does not eliminate red light cameras, it basically puts accountability for municipalities,” said Rep. Artiles.

The bill was originally written to cut a red light ticket fee in half, but it was amended and the fee will remain $158 dollars.

Red light tickets have been money makers for local cities.  A study released last month showed that the program generated more than $115 million dollars. The amount was split almost evenly between the state and local governments.

“We think that we should take a little bit more time to study the changes we made last year before we propose any new changes,” said League of Cities spokesman Casey Cook.

The proposal would require 70 percent of the revenue collected by local governments to go towards traffic safety.  Originally the bill would have banned cities from putting up more cameras, but that was scratched. Something that Melissa Wandall is thankful for.

“The statistics are showing that they are changing driver behavior at those intersections with red light safety cameras. I absolutely think we have to continue to put up those red light safety cameras,” said Wandall.

A Senate committee will hear a proposal for a full repeal later this week

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