House rejects stoplight camera legislation

INDIANAPOLIS -- Legislation that would have allowed some communities to install cameras at intersections and use the photographs to nab drivers running red lights is likely dead this session.\nThe House, on a 76-18 vote, rejected a pilot program proposal Wednesday that would have allowed 10 communities to use the cameras and send tickets to owners of vehicles that were photographed driving past stop lights.\nThe bill narrowly passed the Senate, and because it cleared one chamber, it would be eligible for conference-committee negotiations that could keep the proposal alive. But the House sponsor, Republican Rep. David Wolkins of Winona Lake, said there was no way he would pursue that avenue due to the overwhelming opposition in the House.\nOpponents said the bill went too far as a government intrusion into people's privacy.\n"I think this is just a classic case of Big Brother," said Rep. Woody Burton, R-Greenwood.\nProponents say it would make motorists more wary of driving through red lights, which would reduced accidents and save lives.\nUnder the bill, Wolkins said 10 communities could seek state approval to use the cameras, could only install them at 10 intersections and would have to post street signs saying they were being used. Tickets could not exceed $100, and violators caught because of the cameras would not receive penalty points on their driving records.\nThe cameras would take pictures of license plates as cars passed through a red light. Although tickets would be sent to the owner of the vehicle, he or she could file affidavits saying someone else was driving, and the ticket would be redirected to that person.\nWolkins said the bill had passed the Senate several times but had never received a hearing in the House, and he used to oppose it. But he cited a fatal accident in his district that involved someone running a red light and said a majority of constituents surveyed in his district favored use of such cameras.\nBut his talking points fell flat with most House members.\n"I think this bill didn't get a hearing (in the House) for the last five or six years for good reason," said Rep. Craig Fry, D-Mishawaka.