Lawmakers look for answers on red light camera legal limbo
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Lawmakers look for answers on red light camera legal limbo

Date: February 3, 2014
By: Hanna Battah
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
A legislative committee heard several ideas to give red light traffic camera enforcement a "go." 
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Across Missouri, several court cases are dealing with the constitutionality of red light enforcement cameras.  

Some measures made to streamline traffic enforcement have put the devices in more of a legal limbo.

House Crime Committee Chair Dave Hinson sponsors a bill that he says aims to address the efforts of the entire committee.

The bill lessens the charge of running a red light and caps the violation fee to one hundred thirty dollars.

But not all committee members are sold on his proposal. 

St. Peters Representative Robert Cornejo says this measure only adds to the legal questions of the red light cameras being tried around the state.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Hanna Battah.

Intro: 
The House Crime Committee Chair says he’s drafted a measure that would help get Missouri out of its legal limbo with red light cameras.
RunTime:  0:41
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Dave Hinson sponsors a bill that changes running a red light to an infraction rather than a criminal violation, and caps the violation fee to one hundred thirty dollars.  

But, St. Peters Representative Robert Cornejo says lessening the degree of camera-enforced violations is unconstitutional.

Actuality:  CORNEJO.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: If it’s a moving violation, whether it’s issued by a police officer standing there or by a red light camera it doesn't matter. If it’s a moving violation, you need to asses points. If it’s a non moving violation, then you know, points don’t need to be assessed.

Missouri courts are hearing cases around the state that deal with the legality of photo traffic enforcement, including one in Ellisville.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Hanna Battah.