NMA Community Alert for Jacksonville, FL: Red-Light Cameras Coming to Jacksonville?
The City of Jacksonville has held off installing red-light cameras since 2007, because the Florida Department of Transportation refuses to allow the cameras at major intersections involving state roads until there is a state law that permits photo enforcement.
A new bill has been introduced for this year's state legislative session that, if passed, will do just that. If the proposed legislation passes, because of the revenue-producing potential of red-light cameras, there isn't much doubt that cities like Jacksonville will move forward with their own ticket camera programs.
Here is a recent story from Jacksonville.com with more details.
If you know of anyone involved in an organized opposition to the installation of ticket cameras in Jacksonville, please make them aware of the resources provided by the National Motorists Association in the fight against red-light cameras. For example, here is a link at our site to executive summaries of reports and academic studies that use hard data to show the increased accident and injury rates that occur at intersections after cameras have been installed. The link also includes several brief stories about communities whose photo enforcement programs have gone awry. The NMA information can also be used to develop letters to local news media, so that the public can be educated on the impact (sorry, bad choice of words) that red-light cameras will have on the community.
We have quite a bit more information that may be of interest to them, so please encourage them to contact us directly at 608-849-6000 or by email at nma@motorists.org.
The Jacksonville photo enforcement program can be kept in hibernation if the proposed state law is not enacted, so all those opposed to the cameras should make their opinions known to the lawmakers. Here is contact information for members of the Florida House of Representatives, and for Florida State Senators.
