Texas Legislature bans Red Light Cameras

AUSTIN



The Texas Senate passed House Bill (HB)1631 on May 17.



This bill prohibits the use of red light cameras by municipalities and local entities. Unchanged from the House passed version, the bill will now be sent to the Governors desk.



"After years of effort by scores of Texans, I am pleased to announce that the Texas Legislature has finally passed the bill that will prohibit red light cameras in Texas. The bill will also prohibit counties from using unpaid red light tickets to block vehicle registration. The passage of this bill is a major victory for Texans. No longer will Texans have their 5th and14th amendments violated by unconstitutional tickets. Also, highway safety will be improved. I am truly honored to have worked with Representative Stickland to pass this historic bill,” stated Senator Hall.



Dozens of independent nationwide studies consistently conclude that red light cameras do not improve safety, and in many locations they actually increase accidents.



In fact, a 2008 University of South Florida report found:



Comprehensive studies conclude cameras actually increase crashes and injuries, providing a safety argument not to install them. Public policy should avoid conflicts of interest that enhance revenue for government and private interest at the risk of public safety.



HB1631 prohibits photographic traffic signal enforcement systems (commonly known as red light cameras) in the State of Texas and disallows local authorities from forming future contracts with red light camera vendors.



HB1631 would also prohibit county tax assessor-collectors from refusing to register a motor vehicle based upon the owner's delinquency in paying a penalty for a red light camera violation.



Senator Hall said in a statement that he is grateful for the overwhelming support from the Legislature in the passage of HB1631 and for the opportunity to protect the Constitutional rights of the people of Texas.



City of Sugar Land spokesman Doug Adolph said the city’s contract includes an automatic adverse legislation clause, meaning the contract terminates on the eﬀ ective date of adverse legislation “Red light cameras have made intersections in Sugar Land safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians; however, we will comply with state law. We will continue to monitor and review all intersections for traﬃ c activity and vehicular crashes,” Adolph said.



Houston Coalition against Red Light Cameras spokesman H. F. Van Der Grinten said, “This revenue inspired abuse of the driving public is coming to an end. Sure, a few RLC violations that were documented by City of Sugar Land’s cameras were justiﬁed, but the overwhelming majority of the cited thousands were not deliberate or the result of unacceptable carelessness.



“The legislature obviously remains unconvinced that RLC enforcement actually reduces accidents and saves lives. “The questions of RLC enforcement constitutionality remain issues in numerous jurisdictions in the state. These actions should proceed regardless of this new ban. Fining vehicle owners instead of the violating driver and the denial of a jury trial are two of them. The use of ﬁnes and forfeitures as a revenue source for anything other than ﬁnancing law enforcement also remains an unresolved question.”















