Red Light Cameras Dwindling in Miami-Dade County

People have had mixed opinions about the matter, but red light cameras are now going to be banned from unincorporated areas. Municipalities, though, will still have red light cameras.

As reported by the Miami Herald, Rebeca Sosa, District 6 commissioner, said that “cameras have become a source of tension throughout our community, and can prove very costly. We have heard the residents of our unincorporated areas like Fontainebleu, Schenley Park, Westchester and Kendall to name a few, and I want them to know that I am working to make sure that red light cameras don’t get installed in their neighborhoods.”

A polarizing subject, motorists argue that the program is unfair while paralysis advocacy groups state that the cameras prevent deadly accidents from happening. Just this past Sunday night, one person was killed in a collision described as a hit-and-run by Miami police. A red light camera was able to capture the footage of the accident and provided information for police officers to follow through with. $3 from each ticket that is given is donated to paralysis research.

In 2013, when the red light camera program was implemented, commissioners voted to set up a special board for citation appeals. On July 1^st, municipalities were required to set up said boards if they wanted to continue implementing the red-light camera program.

The program has been profitable for Miami because, in 2013, Miami was estimated to be generating around $3.4 million a year from the citations that the red light issued on a monthly basis. In addition, an $85 administrative fee was charged to drivers who were unsuccessful in contesting their tickets.