Appeals court rejects Orlando red-light camera ordinance
Jul 10, 2012
The following article was published in the Florida Times-Union on July 10, 2012:
Appeals court rejects Orlando red light camera ordinance
An appeals court has ruled that Orlando’s red-light camera ordinance conflicts with state law, setting up a potential case for the Florida Supreme Court.
The 5th District Court of Appeal upheld a lower-court decision Friday that declared the ordinance invalid. It ruled against Orlando and Lasercraft Inc., a company that installed the cameras aimed at cracking down on drivers who do not stop at red lights.
Only Green Cove Springs has red-light cameras in Northeast Florida, although Jacksonville is planning to use them.
The ruling said, for example, that the ordinance conflicted with state traffic laws because it allows city code-enforcement officers to review photos and help determine whether infractions have occurred.
As another example, it said hearings would be conducted by attorneys appointed by the city. Michael Udowychenko challenged the ordinance after getting cited for running a red light in 2009 and taking the matter to a hearing officer. The appeals court said its ruling differs from an opinion issued last year by the 3rd District Court of Appeal in an Aventura case and took a step known as “certifying”
View the orignal article here: http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2012-07-10/story/politijax-appeals-court-rejects-orlando-red-light-camera-ordinance#ixzz20FHxMVkH