House approves pulling plug on red-light cameras

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to eliminate the use of red-light cameras in Florida, sending the issue to the Senate, where a repeal proposal stalled in its first committee.

House members voted 91-22 to approve a repeal bill (HB 6007), sponsored by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, and Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill.

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Avila said red-light cameras might have been well-intentioned initially but have been used by local governments as a way to generate money.

"It has become less about public safety and more about revenue," Avila said.

But opponents of the bill argued that local governments should be able to decide whether to use the cameras to ticket motorists who run red lights and that the cameras have changed drivers' behavior.

While the repeal has broad support in the House, a Senate version of the bill (SB 178) failed to get through the Senate Transportation Committee last month because of a 2-2 tie.

The Senate could put the House bill through the committee process. Also, Sen. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami, has filed an additional repeal bill (SB 630).