Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Saturday signed into law a bill that prohibits the use of red light cameras by local authorities.
House bill 1631, sponsored by state state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, was approved by the House and Senate in the last weeks of the legislative session and effectively bans the implementation or operation of a "photographic traffic signal enforcement system."
Critics of traffic cameras have stated that the use of cameras are unconstitutional, as law enforcement often contracts the camera programs out to third-party companies, where some companies are even issuing the tickets. Nevertheless, those in favor of red light cameras say they save lives and deter people from running red lights.
