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Published on Friday, March 19, 2004
in the Tampa BayNews9.com
Several cities across the U.S., including Washington D.C., Chicago and St. Louis, use traffic cameras to issue tickets to motorists.
Spring Hill legislator Dave Russell is pushing for a bill that would allow the Florida Highway Patrol to use cameras to monitor traffic activity in construction zones.
The proposed legislation comes after state figures on construction zone crashes were released. In 2002, there were 3,700 work zone crashes, 3,800 injuries and 72 deaths in Florida.
Narrow lanes and construction barricades make it hard for troopers to monitor traffic and make traffic stops, which means cameras could be put in the place of officers to document and ticket speeding motorists. Fines for those caught by the cameras would be $100.
"These cameras would aid us in enforcement," said FHP Trooper Larry Coogins. "Allowing our communication centers to monitor what is going on in the construction areas, traffic tie-ups, criminal behavior, impaired drivers and aggressive drivers."
Fines for motorists caught by the proposed traffic cameras would be $100, with 25 percent of that money going to local agencies.
The Highway Patrol already uses traffic cameras along I-4 toward Orlando, strictly to monitor traffic congestion and accidents.