Red light cameras popping up in South Florida

BAL HARBOUR, Fla. (WSVN) -- New cameras in some South Florida cities are capturing drivers who ignore stoplights, but this has some people seeing red in more ways than one.

In a growing number of cash-strapped Florida cities, cameras are taking photographs and video of cars allegedly running through red lights.

Tens of thousands of drivers each month are being cited, and cities are collecting millions in questionable fines. "To me, this is unconstitutional. I just don't believe this is the right way to do this," said Sheila Pignone, who was ticketed for running a red light.

Florida law states a police officer must actually witness a moving violation. Critics say, cities are dodging that requirement by sending red light runners tickets for "code infractions," not citing them for a moving violation, which requires police presence.

Cities say the cameras, while controversial, are cutting down on crashes-- in some cases by 70 percent-- and insist the system is about safety, not money. But lawyers do not think that is true and are moving ahead with a class action lawsuit. "This is solely a revenue generator," said attorney Jason Weisser. "The companies that are actually installing monitoring and running these traffic lights get a cut of the revenue that gets generated. The rest of it goes over to whatever municipality it is, and it's millions and millions of dollars."

In America, according to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety, nearly 900 people are killed each year by cars running red lights. In Bal Harbour, where red light cameras are going up, the police chief says his job is keeping people safe, and if the cameras help, he is all for it. "I think we should test it," said Bal Harbour Police Chief Tom Hunker, "and if it works, fine. If it doesn't, then we'll change it."

Across the country, at least 250 cities use these stand-alone systems. Some of those cameras take the highest resolution pictures possible. "It reduces our error rate and allows you to get the citation to the real owner," said Brad Swanson of American Traffic Solutions.

Both sides do agree on a couple of things: these red light cameras are making millions, and this controversy will ultimately be settled in a Florida courtroom.

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