Roughly half the states in the U.S. use red light cameras to monitor dangerous intersections and catch drivers who run red lights — but Texas is not one of them. The Lone Star State once allowed cameras to photograph license plates of vehicles running red lights, issuing fines or requiring drivers to contest charges. In 2019, however, the law changed, prohibiting cities from operating red light cameras anywhere in Texas.
Regardless of the benefits or drawbacks of this decision, the elimination of red light cameras doesn’t mean that obeying red lights is now optional.
When reckless drivers ignore traffic signals and cause you harm, Zehl & Associates is the team that can stand up, fight, and win for you. Our undefeated Houston car accident lawyers have recovered Billions for crash victims across Texas and the U.S., including the largest record-breaking verdicts and settlements in history.
If you or a loved one were seriously injured by a driver who ran a red light, we’ll hold them fully accountable and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Red Light Traffic Cameras: Use and Controversy
Advocates for red light cameras say they promote traffic safety by discouraging drivers from trying to beat yellow lights or speeding through intersections while the light is red. If drivers know they could be cited and fined for running a red light, even if there was no police officer present, they might decide to slow down and exercise greater caution at intersections.
The fewer people who speed through intersections and ignore right-of-way rules, the fewer injuries and fatal traffic accidents there would be, the reasoning went.
Detractors claim that red light cameras are primarily a revenue-generating mechanism for cities that use them and have a negligible effect on safety. Others cite privacy concerns or the lack of effective means of contesting questionable citations. Eventually, those who were against red light cameras won the argument in Texas.
Red Light Cameras Prohibited In Texas
Thanks to HB 1631, which passed in 2019, no city or municipality in Texas is permitted to issue red light camera citations. However, Houston had already eliminated red light cameras in the city several years earlier.
They were done away with in 2011 when Houston voters passed a resolution banning the use of these devices by city authorities.
Some Cities May Still Use Traffic Cameras
While Houston no longer employs red light cameras, some cities continued to operate them beyond the passage of HB 1631 in 2019. This happened because the law permitted cities that were still under a contract with a third-party vendor to continue using their cameras rather than violate their contracts.
Other cities continued using cameras as a way to monitor traffic at high-volume intersections.
Because the law didn’t ban red light cameras outright, you may still see an occasional red light camera in Texas. However, no city has been permitted to issue citations to any driver because of a red light camera since 2019.
Red Light Camera Citations in Houston
If you receive a citation that ostensibly came from a red light camera in Houston or elsewhere in Texas, don’t pay it — it’s likely a hoax. Texas municipalities haven’t been allowed to assess or collect fines based on red light camera citations since the passing of HB 1631. This also applies to any community in Texas that might still use traffic cameras.
However, because Texas’s law only applies within Texas, you could still receive a red light citation if you committed a violation in another state where these devices are legal. In this case, you would have to pay any fine assessed or contest the citation.
Are Red Light Violations Still Enforceable?
Just because Texas no longer permits Houston or any other city to use red light cameras doesn’t mean it’s legal to run red lights. A law enforcement officer can stop and cite you for disobeying a red light if they see you do it. By the same token, a driver who runs a red light and crashes into you can be held civilly responsible for any injuries you sustain.
If you need help or have been involved in an accident in Houston, contact Zehl & Associates today at 888-603-3636 to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
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