The Dallas Morning News reported that the “idea [to ban red light cameras in Texas] gained traction when state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, filed bills in the last two legislative sessions to eliminate the cameras altogether. Both passed the Senate but failed to get through the Texas House.”
While Senator Huffines indeed has picked up the fight saying last session: “It’s past time we got rid of these cameras. It’s all about the money. We need to stop these revenue-addicted bureaucrats and get some common sense.” The fight was lead by former state representative Carl Isett and others, along with this show, a decade ago. But because Huffines was right about the money from the camera programs fattening up local governments, we were not able to get the machines banned as we did with speed cameras but were able to introduce restrictions for use.
Law enforcement by camera.
In demonstrating contempt for state law, we have learned that many jurisdictions such as the City of Austin have blatantly ignored the law and installed cash-generating, safety-reducing cameras without required engineering studies and similar.
So, it was particularly heartening to learn on that on 10 September, Governor Greg Abbott has put banning these pernicious cameras on his list of priorities for the legislative session which begins in January.
It will be tough as so many legislators see local government officials as their constituents as opposed to the citizenry and because key legislators maybe profiting indirectly from the red light camera industry money spread.
The big issue now is the same all legislators have learned to be leery about: How hard will Governor Abbott actually push to achieve this laudable goal? Let’s hope he pushes hard enough.
With luck, Governor Abbott’s support of banning red light cameras will succeed in the legislature and the cameras will be banned by law statewide.
James C. Walker, National Motorists Association