Texas red light cameras may get bum's rush

By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2009-05-11

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El Paso's red light camera program started in 2006, and under legislation approved last week, the last camera will snap an errant motorist when the current contracts run out in 2012.

El Paso police spokesman Chris Mears regrets the decision. "It's unfortunate," he said, "because we've seen a decrease in T-bone crashes at intersections with red-light cameras." However, lawmakers in the State Capital, Austin, have been trying to ged rid of the cameras for years, saying they're just a money making racket for cities.

The legislative measure was tacked onto a bill aimed at overhauling the structure of the Texas Department of Transportation. The department, the measure states, will assume control of all red-light cameras, no new camera contracts will be allowed, and existing contracts won't be renewed. However, one legislator said he only voted for the rule change because he misunderstood it. He thought it would not affect the El Paso program.

"If I'd known you could not renew contracts, I probably would have voted against it," said State Rep. Chente Quintanilla.

Last year, 24 cameras at 15 intersections in El Paso generated more than 28,439 citations at $75 each. Despite approval of the legislation that included the measure some legislators say it will likely not be in the final version.

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