Last week, Maine became the fourteenth state to ban the use of red light cameras and speed cameras. Governor John Baldacci (D) signed into law a bill introduced by Representative Richard Cebra (R-Naples) that prohibits the use of a “traffic surveillance camera to prove or enforce a violation” of traffic laws. Cebra’s measure sailed through the legislative process with almost no opposition at any stage of the process.
“While on the surface these cameras may appear to increase public safety, recent studies have shown that they actually increase the occurrences of accidents at intersections where the public is aware that there is a camera,” Cebra said in a statement. “The placement of these cameras is also a civil rights issue, creating the issuing of a summons and possible fines and jail time to the owner of a vehicle and not necessarily the actual driver of the vehicle. In many places around the country, these cameras have become nothing more than a money-maker for municipalities.”
The issue of automated enforcement was first raised in March by state Representative Donald Pilon (D-Saco) who wanted to give municipalities the right to install red light cameras throughout Maine. His idea backfired. When Pilon’s bill came before the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation, not one member voted in favor of the proposal.
Cebra followed up with his prohibition measure which was greeted with unanimous committee approval in April. It cleared the full state Senate under a suspended rules procedure used for non-controversial measures, but an amendment was added in the House to allow the use of toll road cameras. Thus modified, the legislation cleared both chambers on May 21 with overwhelming support.
The law formally takes effect ninety days after the legislature adjourns, which would be September 15 according to the latest schedule. Earlier this year, Mississippi and Montana enacted photo enforcement bans.
It still amazes me that these camera enforcement bans aren’t taking place here in Texas.
Given that six different State Supreme Courts have ruled these cameras to be unconstitutional (as the ticketing/enforcement process violates the 5th, 6th, and 10th Amendment), it seems only a matter of time before they are illegal in all states.
Hurray for Maine!
*does a Maine dance*
Red light & the associated short-yellow syndrome are one of (many) reasons I’m leaving Chicago.
Supposedly the new city I’m moving to has a few but nothing like Chicago has….I probably drive through 1/2 dozen on my 25 minute commute to work every day.
Is that crazy or what?
Yay my state! For once some common sense on display up here.
Those are some bodacious uniforms, circa 1955.
Clearly the traffic photo lobby doesn’t have the influence in Maine the way it does here in Misery.
That’s great to hear! After reading all the recent articles about it in other states, I thought Maine would be engaging in it shortly since they’ve had to cut a bunch of things in the most recent state budget. Glad to hear that the politicians here won’t stoop to cameras to generate revenue. There’s a light in Portland near the Amtrak station that sometimes stays green for 5 seconds at the most. I was sure that they were preparing to install a red light camera there.
Hooray for the Maineiacs !
Maine has a pretty good tradition of smarts when it comes to automotive issues. We also voted out emissions testing 15 years or so ago, before the program even started. And I think, but could be wrong, that in Maine municipalities get NO revenue directly from traffic fines anyway. It all goes to the State.