The issue of so-called "red light" or traffic cameras may come to a head in the first session of the 107th General Assembly. Several legislators have expressed interest in banning the devices by way of a bill, and sources tell The Examiner that Tennesseans will almost certainly see legislation introduced designed to curb use of the cameras or eliminate them. One freshman member from East Tennessee told The Examiner that a bill was being drafted to ban the devices. "It is my intention to ban the red light cameras," the member said on the condition of anonymity because the bill has not yet been drafted or introduced, "and I am going to try and introduce a bill to that effect."
The newly-elected member said that he has heard that the reason other members of the House Republican Caucus haven't tackled the issue in a more vehement way up to now is fear on the part of some of what the reaction of their county officials might be. "We are hearing that some legislators are afraid that their local county officials might not support them in their efforts to correct this abuse of power, but in my district I don't seem to have that problem because my county mayor is supporting me."
Another interesting proposal that is being floated on the Hill in Nashville is the idea that revenue from these cameras shouldn't go directly into the coffers of municipalities and counties. Since the pro-camera lobby is touting the idea that red light cameras are about safety, not about the revenue they generate, sources at the Capitol have said that one potential proposal in the forthcoming legislative session is for the revenue to go to United Fund, Goodwill, or other local charities which may help the disadvantaged in the community. "We'd like to see how some of these local governments react to the revenue being taken away from them, since supporters of these cameras say it isn't about the money," the freshman member told The Examiner.
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