A bill to ban Alabama cities from using cameras for automated enforcement of traffic signal and speeding laws failed to make it out of committee in the Alabama House of Representatives today.

Officials from Tuscaloosa, Center Point, Phenix City and Montgomery told the House Public Safety Committee that their use of cameras promotes safety and allows police officers to focus on other areas of enforcement.

Rep. Ken Johnson, R-Moulton, the sponsor of the bill, said cities use the cameras mainly to raise money.

The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee did not vote on the bill after the public hearing. Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, the committee chairman, assigned the bill to a subcommittee for more study. Treadaway said it was uncertain whether the full committee would consider the bill again this year, but noted that it was getting late in the session.

Treadaway, who is a captain with the Birmingham Police Department, said he did have concerns about how cameras are used. He said public safety should be the driving factor in how they are used, rather than raising money.

Johnson's bill, just three pages long, would ban the use of the cameras and would repeal any city ordinances allowing their use.

Scott Holmes, an attorney for the city of Tuscaloosa, said the city has red light cameras at six intersections and has used them since 2013.

Holmes said all the money generated from the tickets has gone to purchase police vehicles. He said there have been 31,000 tickets written in the city.

The fine is $110, with the city receiving $70, the company that owns the cameras receiving $30 and $10 going to state law enforcement.

Center Point Mayor Tom Henderson said the city has two stop sign cameras, as well as two speeding cameras in vehicles that it moves around. Henderson said tickets are $110, with the city receiving $75, the camera company $25 and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency $10.

Henderson said the city's share goes into a separate account for public safety and law enforcement, not the city's general fund.

Captain Stanley Rucker of the Montgomery Police Department said the cameras have changed driver behavior in Montgomery. Rucker said the number of accidents at one major Montgomery intersection has increased since the red light camera was removed from that intersection, Eastchase Parkway and Taylor Road.

Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said cities' traffic camera laws have survived court challenges and allow an appeal process. He said it's best to leave the decision about using them up to cities.

"I don't see what purpose we would have in invading that authority," England said.