Can that camera
The Senate just sent to the governor a bill by Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Southlake, that would ban cities from using cameras to charge motorists with speeding.
“If that’s not a grab for money, I don’t know what is,” said Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, the bill’s Senate sponsor. The vote was 27-4.
Mr. Carona 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.
Republican Sen. Kel Seliger, a former Amarillo mayor, opposed the bill. He called it undue curtailment of local governments’ power.
“It’s something of a police force multiplier,” Mr. Seliger said of the cameras.
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.”