ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Two Florida lawmakers want to get rid of red-light cameras statewide. Florida Republican Senators - Ileana Garcia and David Borrero filed joint resolutions this month which challenges the existing Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Program.
For more than a decade on the First Coast, Orange Park and Green Cove Springs have red-light cameras at intersections. Even though the ban of red-light cameras has been a topic of conversations for years, Orange Park officials say this new legislation hasn't been talked about yet.
"Orange Park is a small town, we have less than 10,000 residents," Orange Park Town Manager Sarah Campbell said. "But, over 80,000 vehicles pass through our community every day on US Highway 17."
If the camera catches you, it is a $158 ticket. Orange Park Town Manager Sarah Campbell says red-light cameras have positively changed driver behavior and act as a force multiplier to help police.
"The recidivism rate is less than 10 percent," Campbell said. "So, we think that once a driver is ticketed, you know, they change their behavior and they don't get ticketed again."
Most cities around the state have gotten rid of red-light cameras which is what a joint resolution proposed by Garcia and Borrero aim to do statewide.
Garcia's proposal calls for the removal of red-light cameras except in school speed zones, while Borrero's proposal calls for a ban on red-light cameras everywhere.
Campbell says Orange Park plans to keep red-light cameras. In January 2023, the town council voted to renew the town's red-light camera contract with Vera Mobility for two more years.
"We have good service, good customer service, good support on the technical side," Campbell told First Coast News. "So, it's just been a very smooth program for us."
In order for the proposal to move forward, it requires 60% support from the Florida's House of Representatives and Senate to reach the ballot, then 60% of voter support in order to pass a constitutional amendment.
"If legislation to ban red-light cameras should make it into law during the next session, there is typically a grace period which might exceed our current contract for red-light camera services. If not, the contract would be voided by the new law," Orange Park Police said in a statement.
First Coast News reached out to both Garcia and Borrero who filed these amendments Wednesday, but did not hear back. Next year's legislative session starts Jan. 9, 2024.