Pennsylvania Becomes 15th State to Adopt Red Light Photo Enforcement

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 151-49 today to pass S.B. 238, a bill containing provisions to authorize a red light camera enforcement pilot program in Philadelphia through 2005. The bill, which passed the Senate in late June, now goes to Governor Mark Schweiker for final approval. Following the Governor's action on S.B. 238, the Philadelphia City Council will need to pass a city ordinance authorizing the program prior to implementation.

In 2000, 40 people in Pennsylvania were killed in red light running crashes and another 9,322 were injured. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Pennsylvania is in the top half of all states for red light running fatalities.

"Drivers who run red lights do so without regard for the often tragic consequences," said Leslie Blakey, Executive Director of the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running. "The passage of S.B. 238 is an important first step toward saving lives in Philadelphia. In time, we hope other Pennsylvania cities with this problem will be allowed to use photo enforcement to help police bring this irresponsible driver behavior under control."

One in three Americans know someone who has been injured, someone who was killed, or both because of a red light runner. Public costs associated with red light running exceed $12 billion a year and the problem accounts for more than 150,000 injuries and approximately 1,100 deaths in the United States each year.

S.B. 238 provides for a 120-day warning period followed by fines of no more than $100 for red light running violators. The city is required to post warning signs near intersections where red light cameras are installed to deter would-be violators. Violations will not be deemed as criminal convictions, will not be reported on a driver's record and will not be subject to merit rating for insurance purposes.

The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running released Stop on Red=Safe on Green: A Guide to Red Light Camera Programs on Sept. 9, 2002. It contains important facts and research on red light camera programs as well as recommended steps for implementing red light camera programs. The guide is available on the Campaign's website at http://www.stopredlightrunning.com .