Last session, after several prior attempts to ban cities from using red light cameras, the Lege passed a bill (SB1119) that granted cities the authority to use them, with some restrictions. Via Matt Stiles, it seems one of the legislators who had made those previous attempts to ban the cameras is still at it.
A bill that would ban local authorities from using red-light cameras like this one at Bellaire and the Southwest Freeway in Houston got a key vote [Thursday] night in the Legislature.The legislation, authored by state Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, was passed out of the House urban affairs committee on the 6-5 vote.
As we've written before, Isett is no fan of red-light cameras. His city actually lost money with them.
Fun fact: Three of the four House sponsors of SB1119 are no longer in the House: Jim Murphy, the author of the House companion bill for SB11119, was defeated in November by Rep. Kristi Thibaut; Kevin Bailey was defeated in the Democratic primary by Rep. Armando Walle, who is now on the Urban Affairs committee; and Dianne Delisi retired. I can confidently state that SB1119 had nothing to do with Murphy or Bailey's defeats, but it'll be interesting to see how all of their replacements vote on HB2639 if it comes to the floor.
Posted by Charles Kuffner on April 28, 2009 to Planes, Trains, and AutomobilesLocal authority vs municipality would eliminate a county's ability to use them not just a City's. I think.
Committee vote - click my name for the link.
HB 2639
The chair laid out HB 2639 as pending business.
Representative Howard, Charlie moved that HB 2639, without amendments, be reported favorably to the full house with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion prevailed by the following record vote:
Ayes: Representatives Davis, Yvonne; Howard, Charlie; Fletcher; Gutierrez; Mallory Caraway; Walle (6).
Nays: Representatives Alvarado; Kent; Miklos; Pierson; Turner, Chris (5).