Texans no longer have to dread trips to the mailbox, at least for one reason. On Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott posted a video on Twitter showing himself signing into law a ban on red-light cameras, which the Houston Chronicle says will go into effect Sept. 1. The bill also permits vehicles to be registered even if there are previous unpaid red-light tickets. There's an amendment that allows cities to keep the cameras until vendor contracts expire, but only two cities are expected to keep their cameras for a couple more years, GOP bill sponsor Rep. Jonathan Stickland tells FOX 7.
While advocates for the cameras—referred to in the bill as "photographic traffic signal enforcement systems"—say they promote road safety and raise money for local governments, those who've pushed back on the cameras say they're unconstitutional and violate individual privacy. Critics also claim the cameras can cause accidents. Stickland says it's a due process issue, noting, "You have the right to face your accuser in court." Violators had received $75 tickets in the mail. (More red-light cameras stories.)
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