House Bill 55 would outlaw red light cameras across the state cutting off revenue sources
Balcones Heights Assistant Police Chief Bobby De La Garza speaks with WOAI News-4 Reporter Demond Fernandez recently on the status of the Red Light Cameras installation
The ongoing controversy of local municipalities installing red light cameras to curtail drivers from running red lights continues. State Rep. Carl Islett recently filed House Bill 55 that would in effect stop the practice across the state of collecting revenues from the red light violations when motorists fail to stop and run the light after it turns red.
Under the civil ordinance when a motorist runs a red light, his license plate is captured on video and documented and transmitted to the vendors who installed the video cameras and sent on to the authorities in the particular city or suburb for review to determine whether the potential violator has indeed violated the law.
Since no police officer is involved in the citation in regards to the red light cameras under the local ordinance, the violation is considered a civil matter rather than criminal when traditionally motorists are spotted by law enforcement and pulled over for the violation and cited.
The citations are issued by the third party and sent in the mail to the violator who is given a specified time to pay the ticket. As owners of the electronic equipment, American Traffic Solutions bills the violators, collects the fees and receives a portion of the fees collected for installing the equipment.
Balcones Heights is the first community in Bexar County to approve the installation of the red light cameras. Currently ATS is still in the process of installing the cameras at four locations in Balcones Heights to include three on Fredericksburg Road and one at the intersection of Hillcrest & Babcock.
The civil offense for running a red light in Balcones Heights will be $148.
The ongoing controversy of local municipalities installing red light cameras to curtail drivers from running red lights continues. State Rep. Carl Islett recently filed House Bill 55 that would in effect stop the practice across the state of collecting revenues from the red light violations when motorists fail to stop and run the light after it turns red.
Under the civil ordinance when a motorist runs a red light, his license plate is captured on video and documented and transmitted to the vendors who installed the video cameras and sent on to the authorities in the particular city or suburb for review to determine whether the potential violator has indeed violated the law.
Since no police officer is involved in the citation in regards to the red light cameras under the local ordinance, the violation is considered a civil matter rather than criminal when traditionally motorists are spotted by law enforcement and pulled over for the violation and cited.
The citations are issued by the third party and sent in the mail to the violator who is given a specified time to pay the ticket. As owners of the electronic equipment, American Traffic Solutions bills the violators, collects the fees and receives a portion of the fees collected for installing the equipment.
Balcones Heights is the first community in Bexar County to approve the installation of the red light cameras. Currently ATS is still in the process of installing the cameras at four locations in Balcones Heights to include three on Fredericksburg Road and one at the intersection of Hillcrest & Babcock.
The civil offense for running a red light in Balcones Heights will be $148.
Copy of the Bill
Relating to the power of a local authority to enforce compliance with a traffic-control signal on a highway under its jurisdiction by a photographic traffic signal enforcement system. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS
SECTION 1.
The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation SECTION 1. The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation SECTION 1. The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation SECTION 1.
The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation Sec. 542.203. LIMITATIONS [LIMITATION] ON LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
SECTION 2. Section 542.203, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
d) A local authority may not implement or operate a photographic traffic signall enforcement system with respect to a highway under its jurisdiction. The Attorney General shall enforce this subsection.
(e) In this section, "photographic traffice signal enforcement system" means a system that: enforcement system" means a system that: installed toexclusively work in conjunction with an electrically operated traffic-control signal;
(2) is capable of producing one or more recorded photographic or digital images that depict the license plate attached to the front or the rear of a motor vehicle that is not operated in comlpiance with the instructions of the traffic-control signal; and
3) is designed to enforce compliance to enforce compliance with the is designed to enforce compliance with the or administrative penalty against the owner of the motor vehicle.
SECTION 3. Section 542.202(b)(3), Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
SECTION 1.
The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation SECTION 1. The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation SECTION 1. The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation SECTION 1.
The heading to Section 542.203, Transportation Sec. 542.203. LIMITATIONS [LIMITATION] ON LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
SECTION 2. Section 542.203, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
d) A local authority may not implement or operate a photographic traffic signall enforcement system with respect to a highway under its jurisdiction. The Attorney General shall enforce this subsection.
(e) In this section, "photographic traffice signal enforcement system" means a system that: enforcement system" means a system that: installed toexclusively work in conjunction with an electrically operated traffic-control signal;
(2) is capable of producing one or more recorded photographic or digital images that depict the license plate attached to the front or the rear of a motor vehicle that is not operated in comlpiance with the instructions of the traffic-control signal; and
3) is designed to enforce compliance to enforce compliance with the is designed to enforce compliance with the or administrative penalty against the owner of the motor vehicle.
SECTION 3. Section 542.202(b)(3), Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
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