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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A bill to bring back PhotoCop has been killed on a 6-3 vote by the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee.
The bill would have allowed cities to once again use of photo radar and also use cameras to catch motorists running red lights.
West Valley City, Sandy and Layton tried photo radar in the mid-1990s, but the Legislature effectively put an end to it in 1996 by imposing restrictions on its use that made it impractical.
The committee vote Monday, which split along party lines, will cost lives and heartache, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson said.
"Lives will be lost and people will be seriously injured as a result of this legislative action," he said.
The mayor, who along with the City Council supported the bill, said it was difficult to understand how traffic could become a partisan issue.
Committee members agreed with the bill's sponsor, Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake, that the driving violations were a problem but did not agree the proposal was the right solution.
"This bill adds to the tools cities and towns can use for red-light traffic enforcement," McGee said. "It's unfortunate that (legislators) were not willing to permit cities and towns to use this safety measure if they choose to."
Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard said he opposed the use of photo radar in previous years but said he has changed his mind, "having seen the tragic results that come from people running red lights."
Kennard said photo radar would be beneficial in areas where speed limits are 30 mph or less. Such areas lie in subdivisions and neighborhoods, where he said it is difficult to keep officers on duty because of limited numbers.
"We just want to get public knowledge out there that we are watching these intersections," Kennard said.
Walter M. Jarman, a resident of Salt Lake City, pleaded with legislators to pass the bill. He said an accident in which someone ran a red light resulted in the death of his father.
"I get a feeling I'm risking my life out there on those roads," Jarman said. "If you don't do something about traffic problems in Salt Lake . . . I guarantee something like this will happen to you."
The Jarman earlier took out newspaper ads supporting the bill.
Lincoln Shurtz of the Utah League of Cities and Towns said the devices would protect citizens, providing "limits and safeguards" for traffic enforcement.
"Automated traffic enforcement would create safe environments in our communities," he said.
Salt Lake resident Dalane England believes HB219 would violate her right to confront an accuser.
"This country was founded on freedom and liberty, this country was not founded for safety or security," England said. "People are going to die if we drive automobiles."
Rep. Michael T. Morley, R-Spanish Fork, said evidence of guilt should not lie within a photo.
Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, said speeding fines were too low and the legislation would not deter lawbreakers.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
