§ 45-57A-64.51 — Legislative Findings

Alabama § 45-57A-64.51

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 45: Local Laws
• Ch. 57A: Russell County Municipalities
• Art. 6: Phenix City
• Part 5: Public Safety and Courts
• Subpart 3: Phenix City Red Light Safety Act

Text

The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1)
Accident data establishes that vehicles running red lights have been and are a dangerous problem in the City of Phenix City.
(2)
Studies have found that automated traffic camera enforcement in a municipal
area
is
a
highly
accurate
method
for
detecting
red
light
violations and is very effective in reducing the number of red light violations and decreasing the number of traffic accidents, deaths, and injuries.
(3)
Current
Alabama
law
provides
that
failing
to
stop
and
remain
stopped at
a
traffic-control
signal
which
is
emitting
a
steady
red
signal
is
a
criminal misdemeanor.
Under Alabama law one who commits such a misdemeanor is subject to prosecution only if the misdemeanor was witnessed by either a duly empowered police officer or other witness who makes a verified complaint to a sworn magistrate.
(4)
Many jurisdictions have adopted laws that allow use of automated photographic traffic enforcement, and the Legislature finds that it should adopt legislation implementing a program for automated photographic enforcement of traffic signal violations;
which the Legislature finds is consistent with this subpart.
(5)
By allowing a program for use of automated traffic cameras in traffic signal
enforcement
by
the
City
of
Phenix
City,
the
Legislature
hopes
to
both decrease the rate of traffic signal violations and learn more about the effectiveness
and
fairness
involved
in
the
use
of
the
automated
systems.

Legislative History

(Act 2012–326, p. 758, § 2.)