TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida House is on a fast track to try and repeal Florida's red-light camera law.
The appropriations committee voted this week to back elimination of the devices by July 1st, 2021.
It's the only committee to hear the bill before the issue move to the house floor during the 2018 legislative session.
According to a December 2016 survey by the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 59 cities and counties reported using red-light cameras. Motorists cited for red-light camera violations face a $158 fine.
Republican representative Blaise Ingoglia is one of the bill's sponsors. He urged members to back the repeal, arguing the cameras are more important to local governments as a revenue source than as a traffic-safety measure.
"Red light cameras are nothing but a money-making scheme for local governments," said Ingoglia. "Forty-nine percent of all the money goes to the vendors, and only 14 percent goes to increasing safety."
Representatives from the city of Orlando asked lawmakers to reject the repeal, arguing the cameras are improving road safety.
