Reagan bill aims to brake red-light runners
by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter
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| One of the Island's five traffic lights is at the intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach. Later this year, during the 45-day closure of the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue, much of the traffic entering and exiting the Island will use this intersection - and the Cortez Bridge. Islander Photo: Lisa Neff
Tracking legislation
To track the red-light running legislation or other bills in the Florida Legislature, go to www.flsenate.gov and www.myfloridahouse.gov. |
Red light.
Green light.
Kids still required to sit in car seats learn to sneak about on a red light when the traffic cop’s back is turned in the playground game Red Light, Green Light.
Imagine if the traffic cop in the game had a camera trained on the players to help keep watch. The game wouldn’t be so easy.
That’s the concept behind state Rep. Ron Reagan’s House Bill 351, which would provide statewide standards for communities to adopt, implement and enforce red-light photo enforcement programs on real roads, not in playground games.
State Sen. Mike Bennett, who represents Anna Maria Island, has introduced similar legislation, Senate Bill 816, in his chamber.
Both bills would allow law enforcement to use camera images to issue traffic citations for red-light running on state roads.
Gov. Charlie Crist has said he would sign the red-light running legislation if it reaches his desk this year.
The measures also recently received an endorsement from the city of Holmes Beach, where the mayor issued a proclamation.
The proclamation states that automated enforcement systems such as cameras at traffic signal intersections are effective in reducing collisions, supported by the Florida League of Cities and the Stop Red Light Running Coalition of Florida.
The bills also have the support of Holmes Beach Police Chief Jay Romine, who noted that the Florida Police Chiefs Association has endorsed both SB 816 and HB 351.
“There are a couple of legislators that are looking to ‘water down’ the bill as it moves through committees and I am hopeful that does not turn out to be the conclusion,” Romine said last week. “I think the bills are well written ... and there is no reason to change them.”
The city has four traffic signals - at Manatee Avenue and East Bay drive, Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive, Gulf and Marina drives and East Bay and Gulf drives. The Island’s fifth signal is in Bradenton Beach at the intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive.
Romine said red-light running is a problem in Holmes Beach and “everywhere else.”
“As long as some people think their time is more valuable than everyone else’s, it will probably continue to be,” the chief said.
He added that HBPD has been aggressive in stopping red-light running, especially at the intersection of East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue.
“There is probably more tendency for people to violate [there] than any of our other locations,” Romine said.
Programs to test the effectiveness of cameras - “photo-enforcement mechanisms” - were run in several Florida cities to provide Reagan with data to support his bill. One test site was at 53rd Avenue West and 34th Street West in Bradenton and two others were located in Sarasota County.
Researchers at the University of Florida also studied red-light running to determine why people fail to stop and recommend solutions.
The researchers, Scott S. Washburn and Kenneth Courage, studied motorists in Gainesville and Daytona Beach and concluded, “Although red-light running is sometimes the result of driver inattentiveness, it is more commonly deliberate.... Most drivers are aware of the yellow/red signal and could safely stop if they wanted to, they just choose not to.”
The researchers added, “The best long-term solution ... appears to be automated enforcement.... When drivers know they will be penalized for their illegal behavior, they will be much more likely to abide by the law.”
Reagan’s bill has been reviewed by several committees and has had a first reading in the House.
Bennett’s bill, as of Islander press time, was under review in the criminal justice committee.
Meanwhile, elected officials in Bradenton and Manatee County have already backed ordinances to provide unmanned cameras at intersections and levy $125 fines. |
