Collin County red light cameras survive Texas Legislature

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

The Texas Legislature adjourned sine die Monday night without passing sunset legislation for several major Texas agencies, including TxDOT.

Buried in the TxDOT sunset bill was a provision cobbled from another failed bill that would have prohibited new contracts for red light cameras. Since the sunset bill (HB300) did not survive, the Governor will almost certainly have to call the legislature into special session.

A few Collin County cities presently use these red light cameras. Frisco opted to let their contract run without renewal. Had HB300 passed, the cameras in Frisco would have shut down.

Plano, however, choose to renew its contract. Plano's new contract with its vendor runs through 2012.

Critics of the red light cameras charge that their main purpose is to raise money for cash strapped cities while defenders cite statistics showing lower collision rates at intersections with the cameras.

Efforts to prohibit red light cameras have been unsuccessful in previous legislative sessions. In an effort to avoid abuse, the legislature in 2007, enacted new, more stringent rules for cameras, capped fines and split net revenues between the state and cities.

Regardless of the arguments, unless a special session adds a ban on these cameras, they will be legal at least until the next legislative session in 2011.