These municipalities are permitted to keep the cameras turned on so they don’t violate their contracts. Some of these locations will continue to use red light cameras until 2024 - the date the contract between the municipality and the red light camera vendor expires. In these cities, traffic cameras were left on and continued to operate because turning them off early would have resulted in a financial penalty to the city. Places Where Traffic Lights Are Still in UseĪs of June 2021, there were only four cities in Texas with active red light cameras: Humble, Amarillo, Balcones Heights, and Leon Valley. This exception only applies, however, if the contract did not contain a provision allowing the contract to end if red light cameras were banned in the state. The exception allows municipalities to continue operating their red light cameras until the expiration date of the contract.
The law does permit municipalities to continue operating their traffic cameras if they were installed and are operating pursuant to a contract entered into before May 1, 2019. In addition, any evidence obtained from such camera systems is inadmissible in Texas courts. The law bans local authorities like city councils from installing or operating any red light camera system. In 2019, the Texas Legislature passed HB 1631, and the same was signed into law by Governor Abbott shortly thereafter. By issuing tickets to a larger number of people without having to expand a physical police force, smaller communities could take in more money via red light camera fines. Not only did red light cameras arguably promote traffic safety, but (perhaps more importantly) they also served as a source of revenue for smaller jurisdictions. Texas Legislature Bans Use of Red Light Cameras
#HOUSTON TRAFFIC CAMERAS DRIVERS#
However, in light of recent legislation, Houston drivers need not fear a ticket from a red light camera anymore. The Texas Department of Transportation reported nearly 4,500 traffic deaths in 2021 alone, and intersections are a common location for traffic crashes of all types. The motivation behind these cameras may have been noble. Traffic cameras, sometimes called red light cameras, could photograph drivers who disobeyed traffic signals, enabling authorities to issue tickets even though no police officer actually saw the infraction. Cameras mounted near busy intersections would be the eyes of police forces that were often stretched too thin. At one point, cameras were considered the latest and greatest advancement in traffic enforcement.
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