NASHVILLE — A vote to ban the use of traffic-enforcement cameras in Tennessee failed Thursday in the House, but lawmakers did approve some restrictions before the legislation stalled amid controversies over other proposed changes.
Lawmakers are expected to resume debate Monday.
Left hanging was an amendment to outlaw traffic cameras in Bluff City, Tenn., with a population of about 1,600. Upper East Tennessee legislators charged the tiny town makes a quarter of a million dollars a month on a set of speed cameras perched on U.S. 11E, where speeds inexplicably drop from 55 mph to 45 mph before heading back up to 55.
“If we could tear every one of those cameras down, we’d be doing the people of this state a great service,” Rep. Henry Fincher, D-Cookeville, said.
Their vehicle of choice to do that, Senate Bill 3586, started out as an effort to expand the type of services that can be offered by AAA and other auto clubs services.