Council Bill Calls for an Election to Amend County Charter to Prohibit Red Light Cameras

FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2014
Press Contact: Colene McEntee, Public Affairs Coordinator, (636) 949-1864, cmcentee@sccmo.org

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO - At the County Council meeting on Monday, April 28, a bill, requested by District 2 Council Member Joe Brazil, will be introduced calling for an election to amend the St. Charles County Charter to prohibit the use of red light cameras throughout incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. If the ordinance is adopted by the County Council, the Charter amendment would be placed on the August 5, 2014, ballot.

The bill states, “under recent decisions by Missouri’s appellate courts, ordinances authorizing red light cameras are unlawful because they conflict with state law or because they do or may unconstitutionally presume that vehicle owners are operating their vehicles at the time of a violation.” The bill also states, “in recent cases now on appeal, circuit courts in the City of St. Louis and in St. Charles County have also ruled that red light cameras are unconstitutional.”

On why he requested the bill, Brazil said, “It is a proven fact that the cameras cause traffic accidents and injuries from rear-end collisions. I don’t think these cameras are beneficial to the residents of St. Charles County.”

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