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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CAMERAS AT INTERSECTIONS WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE RED-LIGHT RUNNING AND �BLOCKING THE BOX�

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WHEREAS, red-light running is one of the major causes of accidents, deaths and injuries at intersections with traffic signals; and
WHEREAS, recent crash statistics show that there were 206,000 red-light running accidents nationwide, with nearly 1,000 deaths and 176,000 injuries; and
WHEREAS, red-light cameras can help reduce red-light running by automatically photographing vehicles whose drivers run red lights; and
WHEREAS, studies in California and Virginia have shown that red-light cameras can reduce red-light running by approximately 40 percent; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has concluded that red-light cameras can be an effective measure to prevent red-light running and encourages the use of red-light cameras; and
WHEREAS, Florida law authorizes the use of cameras to enforce toll collections on the Florida Turnpike System and other toll roads; and
WHEREAS, cameras at intersections could also be used to enforce traffic laws that prohibit blocking an intersection; and
WHEREAS, reducing the number of drivers who block intersections could substantially improve safety; and
WHEREAS, the use of cameras could help to reduce traffic congestion in Miami-Dade County and all available means should be undertaken given the state of the County�s traffic situation; and
WHEREAS, cameras could be used solely to photograph the license plates of vehicles that run red lights and block intersections; and
WHEREAS, photographs of license plates could be used to create a rebuttable presumption that the owner of the vehicle violated traffic laws related to running red lights or blocking intersections; and
WHEREAS, citations issued as a result of photographic evidence could be limited only to nonmoving violations, so that fines might apply, but no points would issue as a result of the violation if the citation is based on photographic evidence, similar to parking tickets; and
WHEREAS, having citations based on photographic evidence of running a red-light or blocking an intersection could nonetheless prohibit a driver from renewing license tags or a driver�s license to increase enforcement; and
WHEREAS, during the 2008 session, the Florida Legislature considered several bills that would have expressly authorized cities and counties to use red-light cameras, but in the end, none of these bills passed; and
WHEREAS, cameras also could assist with curtailing �Blocking the Box� when motorists block an intersection after a light turns red, which is a major contributor to traffic congestion,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to allow the limited use of cameras at intersections with traffic signals to enforce traffic infractions in an effort to reduce red-light running and the blocking of intersections, provided that license tags or drivers� licenses may not be renewed with outstanding citations of this type and further provided that only nonmoving violations could be issued and the cameras only photograph license plates.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation and the implementation of the reforms set forth in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2009 State Legislative Package.