Red light cameras

The Mississippi House passed a measure yesterday that outlaws the use of red light cameras. I see where my good friend Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville, Miss.) amended the bill to outlaw attempts by four cities to move ahead with ticketing programs without any legislative authority.

I filed a similar bill in my first session and got it through the House before running into trouble with it in the Senate Transportation Committee. I think cameras are a fine idea if used to determine the cause of accidents and to monitor the flow of traffic. However, when used as an enforcement mechanism to control compliance with traffic signals, it raises some practical and constitutional concerns, including the 6th Amendment right to confront your accuser (a machine in this instance). Unless the camera photographs the driver, the most common defense is likely to be "I let X borrow my car that day -- he/she should get the ticket."

States that have enabled the use of these cameras allow local governments to photograph a vehicle running a red light. A ticket will then be mailed to the vehicle's owner. It can create a substantial stream of revenue for local governments -- these cameras have brought in millions of dollars in new revenue from the tickets. The companies that install and maintain the cameras will take a percentage of the ticket revenue.

Also yesterday, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill limiting the ability of the city of Albuquerque to profit from the use of red light cameras and speed cameras. Albuquerque generated $5.1 million last year from the use of these cameras. Red light cameras have been banned in Alaska, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.