Some legislators backing red light cameras

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - State lawmakers and advocates are resuming efforts to pass a bill allowing cities and towns the option to record drivers who blow through red lights.

Rocky Hill Rep. Antonio Guerrera joined Manchester Sen. Steve Cassano and other state officials in announcing support for the bill at a Thursday press conference.

Advocates say the red light cameras will change driver behavior and increase safety at busy intersections. Critics say it's just a way to boost revenue and argue that fines would be mailed to the car's owner, who may not have been driving.

In a period of about ten minutes today, News 8 witnessed about one dozen cars running the red light at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Broad Street in Hartford, a very compelling argument for the advocates of what's called 'red light safety cameras.

"It's not a problem for me.  I don't have a concern, if I run a light, you send me a ticket. I need to pay it, and that's the end of it," said Pia Pyle of New Haven.

"If this measure would be imposed people would be more cautious about how they drive especially in a neighborhood like this," said Celestino Jimenez of Hartford.
        
The advocates cite research that concludes that when people know they might get a ticket in the mail for running the light, they're more likely to stop. Some research says it actually reduces accidents at intersections. Leaders in New Haven, Hartford and other cities cite this as a reason they are pushing for the cameras.

"The red light safety cameras really will assist our police department, give us another tool in the tool box to change people's behavior," said Chief Joseph Gaudett of the Bridgeport Police Department.

"We cannot be at every intersection all the time, but we know one thing; we know that red light safety cameras change behavior," said Mayor Scott Jackson/(D) Hamden,
        
Treated like a parking ticket, the fine would be a bit stiffer, in the $50 to $75 range.   Those pushing for the cameras say the money would just be used to pay for the cameras.

"Studies have proven that these traffic cameras do not reduce accidents, in fact, they increase accidents," said Andrew Schneider, A.C.L.U. of CT.
         
The conflicting research is the problem, some of it says that the cameras cause more people to stop short for the changing light, causing more rear-end collisions. The Civil Liberties Union is opposing the legislation because they say it violates fundamental rights like due process.

"Basically your accuser is a camera, and you get this ticket in the mail three weeks after the fact, and you have to recall what are the circumstances," said Schneider.
     
Bolstering the A.C.L.U.'s big push against the red light cameras is the fact that some places that have had them for years are now attempting to get rid of them.

Currently 24 states and the District of Columbia use red light cameras.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has previously said he will sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.