NASHVILLE -- Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, got a chilly reception Wednesday on his bill banning cities' use of automated traffic cameras as the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee told panel members how lawmakers reined in muncipalities' abusive practices four years ago.
"Let me tell you members what's happened on this bill," Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, said as Gardenhire's bill came up at the end of the committee's allotted time. "[Four] years ago, [House] Chairman Vince Dean and myself, we spent two years working on legislation dealing with red-light cameras."
Referring to Murfreesboro Police Chief Glenn Chrisman, who sat in the audience along with Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher, Tracy said, "I know one of the chiefs knows how hard we worked for two years."
Both chiefs are opposed to Gardenhire's bill.
"We put state parameters on," Tracy added. "My personal opinion [is] this is a local issue. It shouldn't be a state issue. ... We spent two years working on this, changed a lot of things people were talking about, Sen. Gardenhire. ... Since that time we've had very few complaints in my office."
With the committee's time previously eaten up by lengthy budget presentations, the bill will come back next week.
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for setting me up like that," a chuckling Gardenhire told Tracy. "I appreciate it very much. Maybe I can return a favor some day."
Speaking later to reporters, Gardenhire said he doesn't think the Senate delay means his bill is in trouble because the panel simply ran out of time to consider it. He noted the proposed ban easily cleared the House Transportation Subcommittee earlier in the day. Fletcher testified against it.
Asked by a reporter about Tracy's remarks, Gardenhire quipped, "That wasn't a cold wind. That was a bucket of cold water," and laughed. "But, Chairman Tracy mentioned that he and Vince Dean did it. Vince is gone now, as you know. So he's not here and you saw what happened in the House. The House subcommittee passed it a little while ago by a good margin."
He said that "to overcome Chairman Tracy's influence on the committee and argumentative style, it's going to be a pretty tough hill to climb up. But I think I can make my point."
The 2011 law that Dean, the then-House Transportation Committee chairman, and Tracy fashioned is based in part on Chattanooga's practices. It reined in a number of problems that had drawn complaints. For example, cities can no longer issue the $50 camera citations on issues related to turning right on a red light. And a policeman must review the video before citations are mailed out.
However, Gardenhire and Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, say problems remain. They argue the cameras are unpopular, constitutionally suspect and charge that profit, not safety, is what drives the cameras' use.
Another Senate Transportation Committee member later said privately that he considers Gardenhire's ban "still alive."
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550.