Legislative Update

April 2006 Legislative Update

If there is legislation pending in your state that is not listed here,
please contact the Campaign at (202)828-9100 or info@stopredlightrunning.com

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STATE
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BILL

Alabama:

HB 35 (Grimes) would enable municipalities to enforce red light offenses using automated detection devices. Referred to the Public Safety Committee on 1/10/06.

Arizona:

HB 2174 (Gorman & Robson) would require that cities using automated enforcement technology display signs alerting drivers to the presence of the technology. The bill was read for the first time on 1/17/06 and referred to the Transportation Committee and the Rules Committee. The second reading took place on 1/18/06. The Transportation Committee approved the legislation on 1/26/06, the Rules Committee approved it on 1/31/06. Approved by the full House by a vote of 44-13. Referred to the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Transportation Committee on 2/15/06. On 2/28/06, the Senate Transportation Committee passed the bill. As of 3/06/06. the Senate Rules Committee was still debating this legislative item.

HB 2180 (Biggs) would enact a series of provisions for the use of automated enforcement technology, including a series of conditions for the use of automated enforcement technology on state property. The bill was read first on 1/17/06 and referred to the Transportation Committee and the Rules Committee. The second reading took place on 1/18/06. The bill is still under consideration under the House Rules Committee.

HB 2411 (Smith) would limit automated enforcement fines to $100, and waive points on driving records and driving school requirements for violations issued by automated enforcement systems. The bill was referred to the House Transportation Committee and rejected by a vote of 5-3 on 1/17/06. This bill failed to pass the House Transportation Committee on 2/16/06. However, it is still being considered by the House Rules Committee

HB 2612 (Biggs) would levy a $200 processing fee on any state agency requesting a motor vehicle record for the purpose of issuing a photo enforcement citation. The bill was read for the first time 1/23/06 and referred to the Transportation Committee and the Rules Committee. The second reading took place on 1/24/06. This bill is still being held by the House Transportation Committee. The Rules Committee has not taken any actions.

SB 1460 (Martin) would require all photo enforcement contracts to be based upon a flat-rate fee. Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee, where it was rejected by a vote of 3-2 on 2/14/06. However, it is still being considered by the Rules Committee.

SB 1500 (Martin) would require all photo enforcement systems to routinely notify the state regarding calibrations and settings. If technology is found to be inaccurate, all fines from previous date of inspection would be invalidated. Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee, where it was rejected by a vote of 4-1 on 2/14/06. After being sent to the Senate Government Committee on 2/01/06, it was withdrawn on 2/13/06.

Connecticut:

HB 5210 (Judiciary Committee) would enable municipalities to enforce red light and speeding offenses using automated enforcement technology. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee on 2/16/06. An initial hearing was held 2/27/06 and it was defeated by a vote of 22 to 16 on 3/13/06.

Florida:

HB 259 (Reagan), known as the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, would enable municipalities to enforce red light offenses using automated enforcement technology. The bill was filed on 10/17/05. It was referred to the Local Governments Council, the State Infrastructure Council, the Finance and Tax Committee and the Transportation Committee on 12/23/05. On 3/7/06, this bill received its first reading before the State Infrastructure Council.
Hawaii: HB 1812 (Souki) would establish red light cameras programs at the county level in Hawaii. Referred to the Finance, Judiciary and Transportation and approved with amendments by the Transportation Committee on 2/6/06. On 2/10/06, the bill passed its second reading in the Transportation Committee and was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Illinois:

SB 2405 (Cullerton) would expand the use of red light cameras to communities in eight Illinois counties. The legislation was approved by the Senate on 3/2/2006 and sent to the House on this same day. It has been referred to the House Rules Committee

Massachusetts:

HB 2023 (Honan) would authorize the cities of Boston and Cambridge to use automated traffic enforcement devices on certain roadways. Referred to the Joint Committee on Transportation on 1/26/2005.
Missouri: SB 719 (Crowell) would prohibit political subdivisions from adopting ordinances or regulations that authorize the use of photo radar or automated traffic control systems to enforce traffic laws. Referred to Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on 2/27/2006.
Ohio: HB 56 (Raussen) would ban the use of automated enforcement technology. The House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved the bill on 4/4/05 by a vote of 8-3. The full House approved the legislation on 5/18/05. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Highways and Transportation. Hearings have been held on 10/4/05, 10/18/05, 11/02/05 and 3/14/06.
Pennsylvania: HB1568 (Creighton) would expand the use of red light cameras to communities other than Philadelphia. Introduced on 5/10/05 and referred to the House Transportation Committee.
Virginia: SB 453 (Davis) would allow the counties of Arlington and Fairfax, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church and Virginia Beach, and the Town of Vienna to establish photo-monitoring systems to enforce traffic-light signals. Introduced on 1/6/06 and referred to the Committee on Transportation. The bill passed the Committee on 1/26/06 with amendments. Passed by the Senate by a vote of 30-9 on 2/05/06. Referred to the House Militia Police and Public Safety Committee where it was defeated by a subcommittee vote of 4-1 on 2/23/06.

 

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State
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BILL

Arizona:

HB 2245 (Gorman) would impose numerous restrictions on photo radar, including calibration requirements, inability to revoke driver licenses and time requirements for violations to be served. Referred to the House Transportation Committee and the House Rules Committee on 1/19/06.

HB 2722 (Gorman) would require all funds from freeway photo radar systems to be deposited in the state fund to pay for highway patrol costs. Referred to the House Transportation Committee and the House Rules Committee on 1/19/06. As of 2/16/2006, this bill was held by the House Transportation Committee.

SB 1146 (Verschoor) would prohibit the use of photo radar on controlled access highways. Referred to Senate Transportation Committee. Approved on 1/25/06. Transmitted to Senate Rules Committee on 1/30/06. Approved by the Senate Transportation Committee and the sent to the full Senate where it was approved in a vote of 17-11 on 2/16/06. This bill was referred to the House Transportation Committee and House Rules Committee on 2/28/06. On 3/16/2006, it was sent to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill was withdrawn from the Transportation Committee on 3/16/06.

SB 1473 (Martin) would require any photo radar violation on a controlled access highway to be observed by a law enforcement officer. Bill was read for the first time 1/31/06, and second reading was on 2/01/06. Referred to the Rules and Transportation Committees. It failed in the Senate Transportation Committee on 2/14/06.

SB 1507 (Martin) would prohibit the use of photo radar on controlled-access highways. The bill was read for the first time 1/31/06. It was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Transportation Committee, and Rules Committee on 2/02/06. This bill failed in the Senate Transportation Committee on 2/14/06.

 
California: SB 466 (Kuehl) would allow the use of photo radar in residential areas. Amended to only allow enforcement in school zones and residential areas with posted speed limits under 30 mph. Referred to Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on 1/4/06. A hearing on the bill was cancelled by the bill's author on 1/9/06. On 2/1/06 the bill was sent back to the Secretary of the Senate.
Georgia: HB 294 (Miller) would allow the statewide use of speed cameras in school zones. This bill passed before the House on 3/11/2005. It was recommended to the Senate on 2/13/2006 and was read before the Senate for a second time on 3/2/06.
West Virginia: HB 4004 (Swartzmiller) would prohibit the use of photo radar. The bill was filed on 1/11/06 and referred to the House Roads and Transportation Committee and amended to fully prohibit their use. It was then sent to the House Judiciary Committee and then approved by the full House by a vote of 88 to 3 on 2/10/06. Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee, the Senate Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. It passed the Senate on 3/10/2006 with amendments and was referred back to the House. The bill was passed by both the House and Senate on 3/11/2006.