Sometime this year, 10 Hillsborough County intersections will get red-light cameras that supporters say save lives and detractors claim cause more -- not fewer -- accidents.
County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to let the sheriff's office negotiate with a company that will install and operate the cameras, which photograph vehicles going through a red light. Citations costing $125 are then mailed to the violator, who can appeal them in court. The citations are civil violations and do not add points to a driver's record.
The intersections, which haven't been determined, will be chosen based on the frequency of red-light offenders.
Several commissioners, responding to complaints from the public, wanted assurances from the sheriff's office that the lights are being sought to enhance public safety and not as a money-making measure.
"You want us to approve this as a way to save lives?" Commissioner Brian Blair asked.
"That's exactly what this is for," replied sheriff's Col. Greg Brown.
Only two residents spoke against the measure. Charles Smalling, a cab driver, said the cameras are a way "to extract money out of Florida residents."
"The profit for the county will be enormous," Smalling said.
Commissioner Rose Ferlita said she had the same concerns. She asked Brown to seek a company that would work for a flat fee rather than for a percentage of the citations.
Steven Burden, an engineer, said rear-end collisions will increase at intersections with cameras.
Rear-end collisions do increase for a few months, agreed Michael McCarthy, county Traffic Division director. However, rear-end collisions are less severe than right-angle collisions that occur when someone runs a red light.
McCarthy said studies show the cameras reduce the number of red-light violations 25 percent to 45 percent.
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