As reported by the Florida Sun Sentinel, after an  emotional 90 minute debate on Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee voted 12-9 to send HB 4087 to the full House.  The bill would repeal the law enacted just last year that allows municipalities to use red-light cameras to issue tickets to motorists for running red-lights.  Some argue, including the bill’s sponsor, that red-light cameras actually increase accidents.  However, many law enforcement agencies and sheriffs across the state support the cameras and say they save lives by reducing automobile accidents and intersection collisions.  Melissa Wandall, whose husband was killed by a red-light runner in 2003, has been a strong advocate for the cameras which led to last year’s bill being named the “Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act”.  She testified in the hearing on Wednesday and asked lawmakers to keep the current law allowing cameras, saying, “Red means stop, simple as that. We learned that in kindergarten”. There is also the financial cost to governments if the law is repealed because the state could lose as much as $86.3 million next year and local governments could lose $71.7 million the following year.

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