Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Colorado Democrat, has proposed a nationwide ban on the automated cameras used to enforce traffic laws – which he contends is used primarily for generating revenue for cash-strapped communities.
Congressman Perlmutter isn’t alone. Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have joined forces to call for a traffic camera ban in Tennessee, while a judge in Ft. Lauderdale this week ruled the technology violates Florida law.
But the bill proposed by the Colorado representative, the “Prohibit Automated Enforcement Act of 2015,” is the first attempt to block the use of cameras at a national level.
“Automated traffic technology should be used for improving public-safety purposes rather than local governments relying on these devices to generate revenue,” Perlmutter said in a written statement.
The measure would bar the use of both red light and speed enforcement cameras, except in school and construction zones.
The technology has become increasingly controversial in recent years, even as the use of traffic cameras rapidly expanded. Proponents claim the devices can help expand the reach of local police departments, and improve road safety. They downplay the revenue aspect, though with many communities around the country struggling for cash, the ability to rapidly nab errant motorists at a single intersection can help prop up local budgets.
Opponents have a long list of counter-arguments. They contend the use of traffic cameras does not give a motorist the right to face their accuser in court, for one thing. And there have been a number of incidents in which tickets have been tossed due to malfunctioning camera systems.
But the results of several studies could further stir up the debate. An auditor examining the use of cameras in the Denver suburbs told state lawmakers that they “cannot demonstrate (the technology) has had a tangible impact on improving public safety. A University of Tennessee study came to a similar conclusion in 2013.
Last month, researchers at Texas A&M delivered mix findings, noting that while there is evidence to suggest red light cameras have reduced the number of T-bone crashes at intersections, there’s also been an increase in rear-end crashes as motorists slam on the brakes rather than risk a ticket.
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