TALLAHASSEE

Installation of new red-light cameras would be banned across the state under a bill that passed a key committee in the Florida House Thursday, signaling a renewed debate over the devices use to catch traffic-light violations.

The measure, approved 10-3 by the House Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee, would prohibit cities and counties from installing cameras after July 1 and would sharply limit the revenue that local governments could raise from the enforcement systems.

The bill would not affect the cameras already in use by the estimated 77 local governments in Florida including Sarasota, Bradenton and Manatee County.

We are not removing the cameras that are already there, said Rep. Frank Artiles, R-Miami. What were saying is that the local governments are not going to profiteer from it. ... If its about safety, make it about safety.

Artiles said leaving the existing cameras in place would meet the safety concerns raised by camera advocates, while at the same time reducing the revenue being generated for the cities, counties and the state. Critics have called the cameras a back-door tax for local governments.

The bill is opposed by local governments and law enforcement advocates.

Our message has never changed or wavered, said Chris Connell, a Tallahassee police officer representing the Florida Police Chiefs Association. We do believe that the red-light cameras are a safety improvement and they do save lives.

Connell was not able to offer any crash statistics but said his city has seen a significant decrease in red-light violations since the cameras have been installed. That tells us driving habits have been changed, he said.

Artiles noted the safety statistics are unclear since a quarter of the local governments using the cameras do not provide any crash information to the state.

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House panel votes to ban new red-light cameras