The camera amendments destroy much of what little due process is left in the for-profit red light camera system. They RAISE the possible fines for ticket challengers from $264 to as much as $408. Appeals will no longer be with impartial judges where the motorist has a realistic chance for justice. Appeals will be heard with a new system of “hearing officers”, people in each area who work directly for the local governments that get the local cut of the fines. This IS the fox guarding the hen house and challengers will have little chance for justice.

The ORIGINAL language of the red light camera clauses in HB7125 had several genuine reforms to reduce the abuses of red light cameras for pure profits. Yellow intervals would be lengthened and tickets for almost-always-safe right on red turns would end. These genuine reforms were stripped out of the bill because they would cost the state too much of the $51 million+ per year in state profits from the red light camera cash registers.

It became a bait and switch set of pro-camera, pro-profits, anti-driver amendments that are terrible for motorists and anyone who believes that justice and fairness should play a part in traffic enforcement. ATS praised the final changes, and that should tell you the real story.

If you care about justice and fairness, lease call Governor Scott at (850) 488-7146 and ask him to line-item veto EVERY one of the red light camera changes in HB7125. They make thing worse, not better.

James C. Walker, Life Member-National Motorists Association