Speed trap camera bill goes to Governor Perry

HB922, a bill by Rep. Vicki Truitt (R, Southlake), which would ban the use of cameras to catch speeders and which passed the House earlier this month, has now passed the Senate and is on its way to Governor Perry's desk.

[Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, the bill's Senate sponsor,] said the cities of Rhome, northwest of Fort Worth, and Marble Falls, northwest of Austin, have used cameras to create "speed traps." He said motorists don't learn they've been nailed - on a criminal charge -- until a notice arrives in the mail from a Rhode Island tech company days or weeks later. That robs a driver of ability to argue with the cop who stops him, Mr. Carona said.

Note that making it a criminal charge differs from the use of red light cameras, where a civil citation is issued. And speaking of which:

Sen. Mike Jackson, R-LaPorte, asked Mr. Carona if he'd agree to expand the bill so it also would outlaw using automated cameras to cite people for running red lights. Mr. Jackson said Garland was one of the first cities to do that. Separate legislation to kill the practice has been bottled up this session, he explained.

"Will you take my amendment?" he asked Mr. Carona.

"Oh, no sir," Mr. Carona replied. "I don't mind dating you but I don't want to marry you."

Heh. As we know, a related bill is in conference committee. We'll see what happens with it.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on May 22, 2007 to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles