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House debates red-light camera bill; lawmakers circle measure for later consideration
Summary
Lawmakers debated House Bill 13, which would allow limited red-light camera enforcement at signed intersections. Sponsors cited crash statistics and studies showing violation reductions; opponents raised mechanical-failure and privacy concerns. The House ultimately circled the bill for further work.
Salt Lake City — Lawmakers on the Utah House floor spent an extended period debating House Bill 13 on Feb. 19, a measure to authorize limited traffic-control signal photo detection (commonly called red-light cameras) at intersections with advance signage.
Sponsor Representative Orville Carnahan said the bill is aimed at reducing injuries and deaths at intersections. “We like having Veil Craft in Brigham City. We can't supply the power, but we're willing to give up $100,000 in revenues to benefit [the employer],” Carnahan said while explaining analogous local trade-offs. He later summarized national data, saying “in 1995, there were 41,000 people killed in U.S. traffic accidents” and noting studies that show sharp declines in violations after camera installation.
Supporters pointed to reductions shown in other jurisdictions and to federal outreach programs encouraging red-light enforcement. “This saves lives,” a supporter said on the floor while urging the House to adopt the technology’s limited use.
Opponents cautioned that automated systems can fail and can issue citations without human judgment. Representative Wey warned that mechanical failures would create wrongful tickets and that “this mechanical device cannot differentiate” context an officer could. Several members echoed privacy and “big-brother” concerns and questioned whether municipalities would use the systems as traffic-safety tools or as revenue sources.
Lawmakers also debated an amendment that would have altered several lines of the bill. After debate and a recorded vote on the amendment, the specific amendment failed. Rather than pass the bill that day, the House voted to circle HB 13 — a procedural action that defers final consideration so sponsors and committees can adjust language or review fiscal and implementation details.
What’s next: HB 13 was circled for further work and fiscal review; sponsors and opponents said they would continue to negotiate technical safeguards and signage requirements before the measure returns for another floor vote.
