Yesterday, Senator Lembke introduced an amendment to HB2111 to include a statewide ban on Red Light Cameras, the amendment passed 23-8.

Senator Lembke asked for a roll-call vote so we know who stands where on this issue:

YEAS:
Barnitz – (573) 751-2108
Bartle – (573) 751-1464
Callahan – (573) 751-3074
Champion – (573) 751-2583
Clemens – (573) 751-4008
Crowell – (573) 751-2459
Cunningham – (573) 751-1186
Dempsey – (573) 751-1141
Engler – (573) 751-3455
Goodman – (573) 751-2234
Green – (573) 751-2420
Griesheimer – (573) 751-3678
Lager – (573) 751-1415
Lembke – (573) 751-2315
Mayer – (573) 751-3859
Pearce – (573) 751-2272
Purgason – (573) 751-1882
Ridgeway – (573) 751-2547
Rupp – (573) 751-1282
Schmitt – (573) 751-2853
Scott – (573) 751-8793
Shoemyer – (573) 751-7852
Stouffer – (573) 751-1507

NAYS:
Bray – (573) 751-2514
Days – (573) 751-4106
Keaveny – (573) 751-3599
McKenna – (573) 751-1492
Shields – (573) 751-9476
Vogel – (573) 751-2076
Wilson – (573) 751-9758
Wright-Jones – (573) 751-2606

ABSENT:
Justus – (573) 751-2788
Nodler – (573) 751-2306
Schaefer – (573) 751-3931

However, HB2111 still has to make it through the Senate Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee and then go back to the House and probably a conference committee before it finally passes, and each step carries the possibility that this anti-RLC provision could be stripped, so we’re not done quite yet.

While I appreciate all the Senators who voted in favor of this amendment–and of course Senator Lembke for his tireless fight against Red Light Cameras–it was very nice to see Bill Stouffer vote “YEA” on the amendment. Senator Stouffer, as chair of the Transportation Committee, is key to making sure that this provision stays in the final bill. So while I plan on calling all of the Senators that voted “YEA” and thanking them for their vote, I will be sure to thank Senator Stouffer especially and let him know that I noticed and appreciated his support for this very important measure, and I encourage others to do the same.

I’ll keep everyone updated on the progress of this bill, and if anyone has anything to add to this or any other suggestions on how we might keep this provision in the final bill, please let me know and I will be sure to spread it around. Thanks!

Approximately one year ago Red Light Cameras went up in the city of Kansas City, MO. We were there the weekend they were turned on, stood out at the sight of the first camera, and protested. We were booed and flipped off by most drivers. Later last spring, a bill to ban the red light cameras was killed in committee.

Fast forward to three weeks ago. We held another protest on January 23^rd at the same location as the prior year. This time we came armed with information to give driver’s about the reasons why they should care about the red light cameras, how the city could actually prevent red light running without a cost to the taxpayers, and information on a new bill in the Missouri Senate to, once again, try to ban red light cameras in the state of Missouri. The January protest went over great! We handed out over 200 of our information packets and the reaction from the driver’s was very positive this time. They are TIRED of the cameras.

We decided that since the feedback was so positive with the January protest, we would do another one in February. One spontaneous idea of Liberty Restoration Project turned into a Nationwide Valentine’s Day Red Light Camera protest. We set up a facebook event calling for other cities to get involved nationwide and it worked! We ended up having 10 cities involved with the Valentine’s Day Red Light Camera protest from all over the nation. Austin, TX, Philadelphia, PA, St. Louis, MO, Santa Maria, CA, Pheonix, AZ, Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Springfield, MO, Savannah, GA, all joined in with Kansas City, MO to protest. This just shows what one seed planted in the minds of a few, can grow into something spectacular in only a matter of weeks.

The reasons for protesting these red light cameras is to bring attention and awareness of them to citizens that they are being installed and used under the guise of safety, when they are truly only there for revenue generation. The protests also help inform driver’s of legislation in their state that could potentially ban the red light cameras in their state. These cameras are just essentially another “tax” on the citizens, they are also unconstitutional as you are denied due process and the right to a fair trial. You cannot face your accuser when you receive a red light traffic camera.

Chicago Valentine’s Day Protests 2010: Homophobia, Red Light Cameras And Horse-Drawn Carriages

Nationwide Red Light Camera Protests to be Held on Valentine’s Day

Video of Red Light Camera Protest in Chicago

Happy Valentines Day American Traffic Solutions

Honk If You Hate Red Light Cameras

Metro Red Light Cameras Under Protest

Chicago motorists sound off against red-light cameras

Red Light Protest2

Red-light cameras stir Valentine’s Day protest

Chicago Red Light Camera Protest a Success!

Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Red Light Cameras Have Got To Go

Protestors to rally against red-light cameras

Dedicated Red Light Camera Opposition

Protesters rally against red-light cameras

Video of Sunday’s Red-light ’scamera’ protest

Video: Missourians Protest Red-Light “SCAMeras”

1. No clear proof that red light cameras reduce accidents or save lives (but they usually do generate lots of revenue for the city!).

source- http://www.motorists.org/photoenforce/home/nma-objections-to-photoenforcement/#nosafety

2. Red light cameras might actually cause more rear end collisions, because people brake suddenly at yellow lights to avoid red light camera tickets.

3. The red light camera system might not be functioning properly, or might not be properly calibrated, and you could get stuck with a bogus ticket as a result.

4. If somebody else is driving your car and runs a light, YOU are responsible for the ticket.

5. You might have a bunch of red light cameras along your daily route, and thus be unfairly targeted.

6. Most of the Kansas City red light cameras are located in areas with higher minority populations and lower income populations.

7. Cities and red light camera companies often reduce the green->yellow->red light cycle time (aka “signal timing”) at intersections so more people will run the light, and get a ticket, and pay the $100+ fine and consequently increase revenue for the city and/or red light camera company that shares in ticket fine proceeds. An unfortunate side effect of this practice is an increase in accidents and injuries.

8. Steve Worley, the city traffic engineer who pushed for the red light camera system use, quit his job and went to work for the company that got the contract to supply red light cameras to the city.

source-http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/17/1733.asp

9. City employees and other people with connections in city hall often get their tickets dismissed. But YOU still have to pay your fine.

10. Red light camera tickets are a bogus revenue generator for the city that ultimately comes out of YOUR paycheck.

11. If you supposedly run a red light and get issued a ticket, the ticket is mailed to you. What happens if the ticket gets lost in the mail? You’ll probably never know about the ticket until you’re arrested for failure to pay the fine.

12. Hearsay (i.e. there is no certifiable witness to the alleged violation). “Ordinarily, if you wish to use a document or letter as evidence in court, you need to bring in a live person to testify as to its authenticity and accuracy (and he can be cross-examined about the same, by your opponent). Without that ‘live’ authentication, the document would be ruled to be ‘hearsay,’ and it would be excluded from evidence.  There is an exception to the hearsay rule, for documents created by a government employee – but many of the documents the police present in court have been created by a private company’s employees, who have no official duty to report accurately.” In other words, if you want to contest the ticket in court, you most likely would not win your case.

source one- http://www.highwayrobbery.net/

source two-http://www.motorists.org/photoenforce/

13. This type of enforcement emphasizes ticket volume.

source-http://www.motorists.org/photoenforce/home/nma-objections-to-photo-enforcement/#volume

14. Red light cameras encourage artificially low speed limits, and adversely affect traffic flow.

source – http://www.motorists.org/photoenforce/home/nma-objections-to-photo-enforcement/#artificiallylow

15. There are better alternatives to red light cameras.

source- http://www.motorists.org/photoenforce/home/nma-objections-to-photo-enforcement/#alternatives