SUPREME COURT OVERRULES 
TWO RED LIGHT PROGRAMS 

The Florida Supreme Court opinion released on Thursday ruled municipalities had no legal authority to issue red light camera tickets prior to the signing of the 2010 Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act. (It does not affect tickets issued since a state law establishing standards for the traffic cameras took effect on July 1, 2010.) The Court said cities couldn’t enact their own traffic enforcement ordinances that conflicted with the state’s uniform traffic code. Florida legalized red light cameras in 2010 after more than a dozen cities had already installed them.That means automated tickets issued before the law took effect on July 1, 2010 were done so improperly. The Supreme Court’s ruling specified that two drivers who received tickets in Aventura and Orlando, respectively, deserved refunds. It is unknown how many other communities had set up camera systems before 2010 but they will be affected by this decision. 

The court’s decision on Thursday comes as an increasing number of city and county officials are raising doubts about the worth of red-light cameras and, in some cases, pulling the plug. In February The Wall Street Journal reported the number of communities using cameras to catch drivers who run stoplights has dropped about 6% since 2012. Around 80 jurisdictions in Florida deploy red-light cameras. Opposition to the cameras prompted state lawmakers this spring to consider legislation banning the programs, but the bill failed to get enough support for passage. 

The Law Offices of Steven S. Farbman would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of the dads out there a Happy Fathers Day. One filled with love, happiness, and good food and cheer. 
The Law Office of Steven S. Farbman is always interested in the safety for the members of our community. As always please feel free to contact my office with any legal questions you may have.