Red light cameras are illegal in Massachusetts. But a coalition of state lawmakers and advocates are hoping they finally have enough support to change that.
A pair of bills introduced in the state Senate and House would let municipalities install automated road safety cameras in an effort to crack down on drivers illegally speeding and driving through red lights.
“There are plenty of neighborhoods where people really want these,” said state. Sen. William Brownsberger for the Second Suffolk & Middlesex District, who introduced the legislation in the Senate and said he regularly hears from constituents who want ramped-up enforcement. “They’re walking their babies across a street that people are blasting along and ignoring the red lights, and they’re begging for some enforcement.”
Similar legislation has been put forward for the past five years. This time, lawmakers are hoping to build off the momentum of a new state law signed by Gov. Maura Healey in January that allows public transit agencies to issue parking citations using bus-mounted cameras — one of the first instances of legalized automated traffic enforcement in the commonwealth. The MBTA and other transit authorities haven’t implemented bus-mounted cameras yet but are hoping to launch pilot programs later this year.
“My perception is people are getting more comfortable with the idea and having more of a sense of urgency,” Brownsberger said.
A group of transportation advocates testified in support of the legislation on Thursday, arguing that automated enforcement would help prevent crashes, injuries and deaths.
Emily Stein, president of the nonprofit Safe Roads Alliance, cited data from other regions that have adopted automated enforcement programs — including Philadelphia, where authorities reported that installing safety camera on one dangerous boulevard saved a life every month.
“This is our chance to change driver behavior in a way that is unbiased, that is not dependent on police department staffing or funding, and it has been proven to make our roads safer,” she said.
The bills wouldn’t require cities and towns to install traffic cameras, but instead let local elected officials opt in to automated traffic enforcement. Jurisdictions that do choose to install cameras would be required to file an annual report with the state detailing the location of cameras, the number of citations issued and the overall success of automated enforcement in reducing traffic violations.
“[Automatic enforcement] will not only make their roads safer, but it will also take the pressure off police departments, who report across the board that their department is understaffed and their traffic division continues to shrink,” Stein said.
Under the legislation, fines would range from $25 to $150. Cities and towns would also be allowed to issue warnings rather than fines. Citations would be issued directly to the owner of a vehicle.
