Coming soon to Sugar Land: red light cameras

Just when you thought it was safe to confine your red-light running to the suburbs: the Sugar Land City Council voted to put up red light cameras at intersections in their town as soon as September. Copycats.

Sugar Land police chief Steve Griffith said that there would probably be cameras at 59 and Highway 6, one of the city's busiest intersections, as well as three or four other heavily traveled intersections. He said that as many as 75,000 vehicles pass through the 59-6 intersection on a daily basis. Fines for being caught running a light on film will be $75. Griffith insisted that the city is using this to improve traffic safety, not to generate revenue.

Governor Perry recently signed a bill that changes the way cities and counties can operate red light cameras. Beginning September 1, counties in unincorporated areas have the same authority as cities to issue tickets for red light camera violations. It also prevents authorities from giving information about unpaid red light tickets to credit agencies.

There are also two test-run red light cameras in the Woodlands installed by Montgomery County, which can now be enforced thanks to the new state law.