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Doubly Dubious

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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: October 31, 2007

When it comes to people who drive motor vehicles through red traffic lights, we take a back seat to no one in wanting to see such dopes pulled over by law enforcement officers and handed a ticket carrying a hefty fine. So, in general, we applaud measures to combat red-light running. We are, however, a bit skeptical about a plan in Port Richey to install cameras at intersections in the city to catch red-light scofflaws.

City Attorney James Mathieu, at present doing double duty as interim city manager, says he has checked the legal precedents and thinks handing out traffic tickets on the basis of still or video images of vehicles driving through a red light will stand up in court. "We're going to proceed," Mathieu told The Tampa Tribune.

When he was still Florida attorney general, however, Gov. Charlie Crist issued a nonbinding opinion that it would be illegal to issue tickets based on automated traffic enforcement systems until the Legislature approves their use. A bill to authorize red light cameras died during the 2006 legislative session.

The data on whether the cameras reduce traffic crashes at intersections is ambiguous.
Then, there is the image problem. Port Richey is looking to have a private company install and maintain the intersection imaging gear. The city and company would split the resulting ticket revenue.

This might not put Port Richey in the same league as those infamous twin AAA Auto Club-designated speed traps in North Florida, Waldo and Lawtey. Still, even the appearance of traffic enforcement as a municipal money maker is something to be avoided.

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