By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House has overwhelmingly approved legislation regulating traffic tickets issued by so-called "red light" cameras.
Two amendments were added onto the House omnibus transportation bill regarding traffic cameras.
State Representative Will Kraus (R, Raytown) sponsored one that would divert all revenue from camera-generated tickets to public schools.
"I think that right now most of the cities are using red-light cameras to generate revenue for themselves and these red-light camera companies...I think that that's a disincentive," Kraus said.
State Representative Jeff Roorda (D, Barnhart) voted "yes," but he also thinks local governments should get a share.
"I think cities put them up for the dual purpose of generating revenue and reducing accidents at intersections, and if cities can't at least underwrite their expenses on enforcing these traffic light cameras, I'm afraid that they're just not (going to) utilize them like they were meant to," Roorda said.
The other amendment would exempt Amish, Mennonite, and similar groups who use horse-drawn carriages from receiving camera-generated traffic tickets.
Several other amendments were added to the transportation bill, which means House and Senate negotiators will have to craft a final version before the session ends on Friday.