Opponents Say Red Light Camera Is Local Decision
Air Date:02/08/2011
By Kealey Bultena
A bill that bans some radar devices and red light cameras made it out of House chambers and moves on to the Senate.
Democratic Representative Peggy Gibson says traffic cameras violate a driver’s right to due process, and cities use the cameras to make money. But Republican Representative Shawn Tornow says towns have the right to put cameras at stoplights.
"If there’s an uprising by the community not to have cameras, let them go argue to the city council. Let them go argue to the mayor," Tornow says. "But why on earth would we have a statewide mandate or a ban because we have one concern about one intersection – again, whether it’s Sioux Falls or Brookings or Yankton or wherever?"
Tornow says prohibiting cameras doesn’t fit with South Dakota’s law enforcement philosophy. Despite speakers against the ban, the bill passed the house 43 to 24.
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