New Jersey: Red Light Camera Bill - S2123
The Red Light Camera (RLC) bill is scheduled for a hearing in the
Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, March 5, at 1 PM in
Committee Room 10, 3rd floor of the State House Annex in Trenton.
Bill S2123, introduced by Democratic Senator Joseph Coniglio
(District 38 - Bergen) in July of 2006, is very focused on
implementation of RLCs at the municipal level and amendments are in
the works since it doesn't look like the original bill will fly.
The New Jersey Chapter Newsletter should have arrived this week and
it provides more detail on the problems with S2123 and it provides
the same contact information for the committee members and the
sponsor as provided in prior e-mail alerts, including this one.
While we haven't seen the specific language, the bill may evolve
to a pilot program limited to two municipalities. They would have
to certify to the Commissioner of NJDOT that the intersections they
want to use RLCs at have the two yellow light requirements that are
listed on the NMA Web site. It appears they read our information
in addition to our many objections. We didn't sit down and
negotiate with the sponsor who has been uncooperative.
We are having an impact but the objective is to maintain the total
ban on photo enforcement of any kind where tickets can be issued.
If you *haven't* already made a call to the committee members
telling them to "Vote No," please do so now as detailed below
before it is too late. As always, thanks for your help. We won't
be able to maintain the total ban without you.
NJ-NMA wants you to call or e-mail the sponsor and committee
members and tell them you don't support S2123. The strong
preference is that you call them and leave a message with the aide
that answers the phone or leave a message on the answering
system (even on the weekend). If you are a constituent of any of
these senators, be sure to mention it.
Bill Sponsor:
Senator Joseph Coniglio (Bill Sponsor, D, D-38)
(201)-576-9199
SenConiglio@njleg.org
Senate Transportation Committee Members:
You can specifically tell committee members to vote No on Bill S2123.
Democratic (majority) members:
Senator Nicholas J. Sacco (Chair, D, D-32)
(201)-295-0200
SenSacco@njleg.org
Republican (minority) members:
Both Republicans do NOT support the bill. Concentrate on the
Democrats but a message left for the Republicans is still a very
good idea so they can claim all the calls they received.
Senator Andrew R. Ciesla (R, D-10)
(732)-840-9028
SenCiesla@njleg.org
Senator Henry P. McNamara (R, D-40)
(201)-848-9600
SenMcNamara@njleg.org
Your calls (and e-mails) will make a difference. There is a good
chance the bill could be pulled from committee if enough calls are
made - and only you can make that happen! Thanks for your help.
And, anyone who wants to come to the hearing is welcome.
Consider sending this alert to others who don't want to see Red Light
Camera enforcement appear in New Jersey.
For more information on photo enforcement, see below and the Winter
2007 New Jersey Chapter Newsletter but you don't really need it to
make a call expressing your opposition to S2123, the red light
camera bill.
FOR MORE INFO
For more information on photo enforcement, see the home page for this
subject on the NMA Web site at:
http://www.motorists.org/photoenforce/.
A key point of NMA's position is that red light violations are primarily
the result of poorly designed, poorly maintained, or improperly operated
traffic lights. Ticket cameras typically increase, not decrease,
the number of accidents at controlled intersections. A dangerous
intersection can only be made safer through the use of proven
engineering solutions, such as modestly increasing the yellow-light
time. Lives will be lost and accidents increased if these deficiencies
are left uncorrected.
Here's a link to the original bill:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S2500/2123_I1.HTM
If you want to start with a summary, scroll to the bottom for the
bill statement.
