TAMPA, Fla. — The controversial debate over red light cameras in the state of Florida will continue as one lawmaker works to get rid of them.
According to our sister station in Orlando, Rep. Anthony Sabatini, of Clermont, is pushing a bill that would pull the plug on red light camera programs statewide.
This week, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles released their state study on the cameras and their impacts. It found that at the intersections where cameras were put in minor crashes actually went up. However, severe crashes have gone down.
The report also highlights how the number of cameras across the state have decreased dramatically. As of the summer of 2018, there were 508 red light cameras in the state. Compared to the 950 that were in place when they were first introduced.
The city of Tampa has 21 cameras, the most in our area. They also have given out the most tickets in our area at more than 87,000.
The finding also suggests better ways to reduce traffic accidents including better signage, lighting and better planning on how roads are built.
