TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The $158 red light camera fine has annoyed plenty of drivers around the state. A city is opting out of the program and cities around the state aren't seeing the same amount of money coming in as they once did.
Eighty-three dollars of every $158 ticket goes to the state of Florida. The remaining $75 is used to pay for the cameras. If violations and revenue continue to go down, many cities could opt out or continue to pay for the program out-of-pocket.
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Attorney Ian Nesbeth has defended dozens of red light camera tickets. He said they've been a headache for the past five years and are unconstitutional because cities send off pictures of the potential violator to a third party.
"If the state wishes to reduce the number of infractions, then put some more police officers out there," Nesbeth said. "Let's get something that's actually constitutional that complies with our laws."
Nesbeth and other Tallahassee attorneys won't have to worry much longer; Florida's capital is taking the cameras down in August.
In the city of Tallahassee's case, one of the reasons the cameras are coming down is because drivers are driving better. Instead of pulling up to yellow lights and speeding through them, drivers are hitting the breaks.
"There's not enough people running red lights to pay for the program," said Michelle Bono, of the city of Tallahassee.
There's a statewide revenue dip. Statewide, revenue from red light camera tickets went from $62 million in 2013 to just $37 million in 2014.
The Florida League of Cities said they empower the cities to do as they see fit.
"The league has the position that cities that determine that it enhances public safety, they should be able to use cameras," said Scott Dudley, of the Florida League of Cities.
But feedback from local governments has been positive.
"There's people who are getting tickets at red lights that are not too happy about it," Dudley said.
The state Legislature has failed at repealing the program recently. If revenue numbers continue to trend downwards, more local governments will be faced with the decision of whether or not to leave them up.