'Red Light' Bill Before State Lawmakers Again
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Known as the red light camera bill, SB3 has been prepared by State Sen. Kent Adams (R-Warsaw) for a hearing before the Transportation and Homeland Security committee tomorrow.
This is the third year Adams has sponsored the legislation, which allows local communities to institute their own ordinances regarding automated traffic law enforcement systems installation at designated intersections.
To date, Sen. Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne), chairman of the Transportation and Homeland Security committee, has been added as co-author along with Sen. Charles "Bud" Meeks (R-Leo).
Indiana lists 157 deaths attributed to red light running from 1992 through 1998, an average of 26 per year.
"Some 15 states and 76 cities now have red light cameras in use, with eight other states considering expanding their use or putting into use for the first time," Adams wrote in a report to transportation committee chairman Sen. Tom Wyss. "Red light violations have dropped between 20 percent and 87 percent where red light cameras are in use. California experienced a 100 percent reduction in red light accidents after cameras were installed at high accident intersections, according to the California Bureau of State Audits."
Locally, more than 415 additional man hours were spent in 2001 patrolling the four-mile stretch of U.S. 30 on the north and northeast boundary of Warsaw.
From January 1999 through December 2001, the Warsaw Police Department investigated 250 accidents along this stretch of highway.
Also in 2001, 143 traffic tickets were issued for disregarding red lights at the city's six U.S. 30 signalized intersections.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins will testify before the highway committee tomorrow in favor of the legislation.
Local resident Ann Sweet, whose daughter died in an accident caused by a red light runner in 1997, also will appear before the committee.
Sweet has earned national recognition as an advocate for the automated systems, speaking across the country and at the capitol in Washington, D.C.
Adams' legislation would allow local governments to create their own laws regarding installation of the red light cameras.
If the owner of a motor vehicle runs a red light, a recorded still photographic image of that motor vehicle is produced.
The photograph becomes evidence in any court procedure. Civil penalties may not exceed $100 and may be enforced through local ordinance violation bureaus or infraction and ordinance violation enforcement proceedings.
The bill specifies the local laws must require local police officers to review the recorded images. Warning notices may be sent by mail instead of imposing civil penalties.
Payments of compensation to vendors of the automated systems are not to be made on the basis of: (1) the number of recorded images; (2) the number of citations issued; or (3) the amount of revenue generated. [[In-content Ad]]
Known as the red light camera bill, SB3 has been prepared by State Sen. Kent Adams (R-Warsaw) for a hearing before the Transportation and Homeland Security committee tomorrow.
This is the third year Adams has sponsored the legislation, which allows local communities to institute their own ordinances regarding automated traffic law enforcement systems installation at designated intersections.
To date, Sen. Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne), chairman of the Transportation and Homeland Security committee, has been added as co-author along with Sen. Charles "Bud" Meeks (R-Leo).
Indiana lists 157 deaths attributed to red light running from 1992 through 1998, an average of 26 per year.
"Some 15 states and 76 cities now have red light cameras in use, with eight other states considering expanding their use or putting into use for the first time," Adams wrote in a report to transportation committee chairman Sen. Tom Wyss. "Red light violations have dropped between 20 percent and 87 percent where red light cameras are in use. California experienced a 100 percent reduction in red light accidents after cameras were installed at high accident intersections, according to the California Bureau of State Audits."
Locally, more than 415 additional man hours were spent in 2001 patrolling the four-mile stretch of U.S. 30 on the north and northeast boundary of Warsaw.
From January 1999 through December 2001, the Warsaw Police Department investigated 250 accidents along this stretch of highway.
Also in 2001, 143 traffic tickets were issued for disregarding red lights at the city's six U.S. 30 signalized intersections.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins will testify before the highway committee tomorrow in favor of the legislation.
Local resident Ann Sweet, whose daughter died in an accident caused by a red light runner in 1997, also will appear before the committee.
Sweet has earned national recognition as an advocate for the automated systems, speaking across the country and at the capitol in Washington, D.C.
Adams' legislation would allow local governments to create their own laws regarding installation of the red light cameras.
If the owner of a motor vehicle runs a red light, a recorded still photographic image of that motor vehicle is produced.
The photograph becomes evidence in any court procedure. Civil penalties may not exceed $100 and may be enforced through local ordinance violation bureaus or infraction and ordinance violation enforcement proceedings.
The bill specifies the local laws must require local police officers to review the recorded images. Warning notices may be sent by mail instead of imposing civil penalties.
Payments of compensation to vendors of the automated systems are not to be made on the basis of: (1) the number of recorded images; (2) the number of citations issued; or (3) the amount of revenue generated. [[In-content Ad]]