TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida lawmaker wants to put the brakes on red light cameras in the state.
Senator Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed legislation in Tallahassee Wednesday that would ban cities and counties from using the cameras to fine drivers caught running red lights.
In a statement Brandes says while he initially believed the cameras were safety devices, he now thinks they are being used as "backdoor tax increases."
More than 100 jurisdictions across Florida now use the cameras to collect millions of dollars in fines from drivers every year.
A similar bill is expected to be filed in the House. Previous attempts to ban the cameras in the legislature have failed.
Leroy Costner, a traffic ticket attorney, says that the cameras, which have been in Florida for about 3 years, are flawed.
"It's not a local law enforcement officer, its not someone sees you doing something wrong its a machine," Costner said.
The city and state are pocketing too, according to the Florida Department of Revenue, from last July to June 2013, the state has made around 62 million dollars. In Orlando, $1.9 million.
"As long as the state's making money out of it, they are not going to get rid of it," Costner said.
Click here to see how much each local municipality has made.