1.
Do you feel that Texas cities should be able to photograph red-light runners?
Solution
To help provide an incentive for drivers to heed traffic lights, many cities in Texas have installed
red light cameras at major intersections. These cameras are activated only if a car proceeds
through the intersection after the light turns red. There is usually a short grace period of
approximately half a second. If a vehicle proceeds through intersection instead of stopping for a
red light, the cameras photograph the license plate of the offending vehicle. The photographs are
examined by trained police officers, and if it’s determined that a violation did occur, the
owner of the vehicle is mailed a red light ticket.
To help protect the rights of drivers, Texas has laws in place that govern the use of red light
cameras. For example, the cameras are only allowed to take pictures of vehicles that actually run
a red light. It is illegal for a city to use Texas red light cameras to take a picture of every vehicle
that crosses the intersection. Also, the municipality must post signs at least 100 feet from the
intersection itself to inform drivers of the cameras.
So Texas cities should photograph only red light runners and not all the vehicles that run the
intersection.