AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott wants to ban red-light cameras, a measure he announced Monday as part of his plan to increase public safety in Texas.

The cameras, which take photos of vehicles that run red lights, are expensive, increase accidents and pose constitutional issues, Abbott said in a list of recommendations.

“While proponents of red light cameras claim that their presence leads to an increase in safety by decreasing the number of angle accidents [or side-impact collisions], data show that they may lead to an overall increase in other types of accidents such as rear-ending due to sharp braking,” he said.

Gov. Greg Abbott wants to eliminate red-light cameras, which he said are expensive, increase accidents and pose constitutional issues. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Installing a red-light camera system costs more than $100,000, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Abbott said the cameras might not be constitutional because they take photos of license plates, not drivers, so the people being accused are considered guilty until proved innocent.

He and other Texas lawmakers have long wanted to get rid of the cameras.

As attorney general in 2013, Abbott proposed letting residents vote to repeal cities' red-light camera ordinances. Arlington voters did so in 2015.

The idea gained traction when state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, filed bills in the last two legislative sessions to eliminate the cameras altogether. Both passed the Senate but failed to get through the Texas House.

"It's past time we got rid of these cameras," he told The Dallas Morning News on Monday. "It's all about the money. We need to stop these revenue-addicted bureaucrats and get some common sense."

Rather than using red-light cameras, cities can improve safety in other ways, such as extending yellow light time or redesigning intersections, he said.

"I think this is the year we can get everyone on board," Huffines said. "I'm very excited and happy Gov. Abbott is on board. It's a matter of getting the Senate and House to line up."

In Dallas, a red-light ticket is $75 per violation and increases by $25 if not paid within 30 days.

Not all cities in North Texas have the cameras, though. Cockrell Hill decided not to install them because city officials said their police officers are capable of handling the traffic. Highland Park and DeSoto also don't have them.

Richardson suspended its camera program in 2016 after a court decided a resident accused of running a red light was not liable for his ticket. The case is headed to the Texas Supreme Court, which will consider whether Russell Bowman's challenge is valid.

If he wins, that could spell the end of the cameras, which have generated about $641 million, according to data provided by the Texas Comptroller's Office. Half the money from the ticket revenue goes to the state, a representative from the office said. And part of the money goes toward regional trauma centers and local traffic safety programs, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Officials in cities that have these cameras say they've used their portion of the money raised from fines to ease traffic and prevent taxpayers from having to pay for improvements to school zone signs and public safety programs.

Plano has bought backup generators for stoplights at busy intersections, installed countdown tickers at crosswalks and funded its DWI law enforcement program, a police spokesman said.

Abbott's public safety plan also proposes using $10 million to create Texas Anti-Gang Centers in Waco and Tyler, requiring jail time for criminals convicted of human trafficking and sexual assault and providing rifle-resistant body armor to police officers.