NASHVILLE — Legislation restricting local governments’ use of traffic surveillance cameras ran out of gas today on the Senate floor.
The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, moved it back to committee.
“I think it needs to be vetted in both houses,” he said.
He noted anti-traffic camera enforcement lawmakers in the House “hijacked” his original bill, which dealt with updating services for auto clubs such as AAA, and inserted restrictions dealing with speed and red-light cameras.
Sen. Ketron said his local police chief persuaded him the restrictions would have an adverse impact on traffic enforcement at two of the state’s busiest intersections, both in his district.
His bill became the vehicle for House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Harmon, D-Dunlap, and other camera enforcement critics when their efforts to pass comprehensive restrictions failed to get out of a key subcommittee. So last month they successfully attached a whittled-down version on the House camera restrictions on the auto club bill and passed it.
As amended, the bill said local governments as of Jan. 1 could not place a camera on highways receiving state funds unless the location was approved specifically by city or county governments after two public hearings on different days.
It also said a fine could not exceed $50, which is current law. Violators could not be charged more than $50 for late payments, and court costs could not be imposed unless the violator actually contests the citation.
Officials from Chattanooga and other cities fought the bill, contending the cameras save both lives and police manpower.
Critics argued local governments were more interested in revenue generated by the cameras.
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