Florida House panel OKs red light camera repeal

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A bill to repeal Florida's law permitting the use of cameras to ticket motorists who run red lights has begun moving through the Legislature.

Its first committee of reference narrowly approved the bill (HB 4011) on Thursday.

Law enforcement officials argued against repeal, saying the cameras save lives.

Opponents contended studies on their effectiveness are flawed and contended the real issue is money.

The state gets $83 of each $158 fine. That amounted to $51 million in the last full budget year. Local governments and camera contractors get the rest.

The bill is on a fast track in the House with only one more committee stop — Appropriations — before a possible floor vote. It may have problems in the Senate, though, were no similar legislation has been filed.