A legislative effort to ban red light cameras throughout the state of Florida is back. But, as in years past, it’s sure to encounter opposition from one of the cameras’ original champions.
Rep. Bryan Avila (R-Hialeah) is the repeal’s House sponsor. Frank Artiles (R-Miami) used to do that when he was in the House. But, as a new state Senator, he’s now filed the Senate bill. In the past, he’s called it a money generator for the vendors and local governments.
“This is a terrible program,” Artiles said, earlier this year. “It was veiled under safety, and the reality is it wasn’t about safety, it was all about revenues.”
But, Melissa Wandall disagrees. She’s the widow of the man the red light camera law is named after.
“I don’t think they really understand this is truly about saving lives and nothing more than that,” she said. “And, hopefully, we can take this next year again before session starts up again to really educate people and really get them to understand why the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act must remain in our communities.”
The red light camera ban has been filed for the past five years, but has died each time.
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