State lawmakers are undoubtedly giving Mayor Bill White heartburn. Today’s Chronicle reports on last night’s news that Sen. Whitmire’s towing legislation is zipping through the Senate, and also talks about how the Legislature is addressing Houston’s red light cameras:
The city hoped to start using cameras to issue civil citations in at least 10 dangerous intersections by April, and to expand the program to as many as 50 intersections.
Under Texas law, running a red light is a Class C misdemeanor that can only be regulated by the state, even though local governments are in charge of enforcement. In 2003, the House overwhelmingly voted not to allow cities to use cameras to issue criminal citations to red-light violators.
But state Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, inserted an amendment in the 2003 transportation bill giving cities the right to regulate transportation matters civilly or criminally.
The bill by [Rep. Gary] Elkins would eliminate that amendment.
“It had unintended consequences,” the Houston Republican said. “No one knew it was going to be used as a vehicle to use red-light cameras. No city has the power to override state law.”
[snip]
Elkins, who filed the bill in December, said he hopes it is quickly passed out of committee. The earliest he imagines the House will vote on it is early March.
Elkins appears to have wide support. Houston-area representatives co-authoring the bill include Republicans Dwayne Bohac, Wayne Smith and Corbin Van Arsdale and Democrats Coleman, Harold Dutton, Joe Moreno, Melissa Noriega, Senfronia Thompson and Sylvester Turner.
