Section 45-24A-32.01 Legislative Findings.

The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) Accident data establishes that vehicles running red lights have been and are a dangerous problem in Selma, Alabama. (2) Studies have found that automated traffic camera enforcement in a municipal area is a highly accurate method for detecting red light violations and is very effective in reducing the number of red light violations and decreasing the number of traffic accidents, deaths, and injuries. (3) Current Alabama law provides that failing to stop and remain stopped at a traffic-control signal which is emitting a steady red signal is a criminal misdemeanor. Under Alabama law one who commits such a misdemeanor is subject to prosecution only if the misdemeanor was witnessed by either a duly empowered police officer or other witness who makes a verified complaint to a sworn magistrate. (4) Many jurisdictions have adopted laws that allow use of automated photographic traffic enforcement, and the Legislature finds that it should adopt legislation implementing a program for automated photographic enforcement of traffic signal violations, which the Legislature finds is consistent with this part. (5) By allowing a program for use of automated traffic cameras in traffic signal enforcement by the City of Selma, the Legislature hopes to both decrease the rate of traffic signal violations and learn more about the effectiveness and fairness involved in the use of the automated systems.