There is an ongoing debate over the growing practice of cities using red light traffic cameras to earn revenue. These infractions allow law enforcement to use a third party private entity to provide enough, alleged evidence for law enforcement to issue costly traffic citations.
Due to legal challenges, the number of cities that currently have this profit sharing program has declined from 500 to about 335 communities.
On June 1, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1631 into law, prohibiting cities from operating photographic traffic camera systems that catch citizens speeding or running red lights and issuing them fines. The new law created two new statutes within the Texas Transportation Code.
The new law, which went into effect on June 2, 2019, doesn’t necessarily mean all red light cameras will go away immediately. A few Texas cities with cameras already have contracts in place and could be allowed to operate them until their contracts expire.
Red light cameras are devices mounted on traffic stop light poles and cross-members which automatically collect video evidence on intersection collisions and red light violations. Red light camera systems utilize technology, but they ultimately consist of a simple system comprised of one or more cameras, one or more triggers, and a computer. They are usually mounted at the corners of an intersection and on poles which provide a good view of the intersection. They capture all vehicles passing through the intersection and from different directions and different angles. Some use film, but most are digital. A local law enforcement officer than proceeds to sign off on these infractions ‘under the penalty of perjury,’ before it is mailed to a defendant.
From a law enforcement and public safety perspective, red light cameras allow law enforcement to easily issue a ticket to violators. From a legal perspective, they provide a valuable and, in most cases, the only source of evidence that seems unlawful, unjustified and illegal. Fiscally these infractions make sense for cities, but thanks to Governor Abbott, efforts are underway to outlaw and remove these cameras.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal allegation, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their DUI charge, and some times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a DUI should hire a qualified Seattle DUI Lawyer as soon as possible. DUI charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a DUI in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle DUI Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
