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Running Red Lights Won't be as Easy in St. Louis

March 8, 2005
By: Bente Birkeland
State Capital Bureau

If you drive in St. Louis, you might want to think twice before letting someone borrow your car.

Bente (BEN teh) Birkeland has more from Jefferson City.

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A new bill would use cameras to catch reckless drivers in St. Louis. Sen. Harry Kennedy, a St. Louis Democrat is sponsoring the legislation. It would mean installing cameras at high risk intersections to catch drivers running red lights.

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" And a ticket is mailed to the owneer of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle is not necessarily held responsible and I think that's important."

Kennedy says the owner needs to prove they weren't driving the car, but they don't need to prove who was.

Violators would receive a $50 fine, but it wouldn't go on their driving record.

Kennedy says this is a pilot project, and he hopes it can eventually become a statewide program.

From the state Capitol, I'm Bente Birkeland.

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A new bill would use cameras to catch reckless drivers in St. Louis.

Bente (BEN teh) Birkeland has more from Jefferson City.

Story:
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The legislation would put cameras at high risk intersections in St. Louis to snag drivers running red lights.

Sen. Harry Kennedy, a St. Louis Democrat is sponsoring the bill. He says car owners would receive a $50 ticket in the mail.

Rodney Boyd, is a lobbyist for the city of St. Louis and says he thinks it would make the roads more safe. He says, car owners won't have to pay the fine if someone else was driving their car.

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"If you were at work you can get a letter from your employer. If you were at the grocery store you can show your grocery receipt. Any objective evidence that you weren't in care and control of the vehicle will be admissible to exonerate you."

A spokesperson from Sen. Kennedy's office says this program would be the first of its kind in Missouri.

From the state Capitol, I'm Bente Birkeland.

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A state legislator says he wants to crack down on reckless drivers in St. Louis. Bente (BEN teh) Birkeland has more from Jefferson City.

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The bill would install cameras at dangerous intersections in St. Louis.

Sen. Harry Kennedy a St. Louis Democrat is sponsoring the legislation. He says the law would deter drivers from running red lights and punish those who do. Signs would notifiy drivers of cameras at the intersection.

The cameras are activated to take pictures of cars when a light turns red.

The car owner would then receive a ticket in the mail.

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"I believe we have proper safeguards so people who can prove that they weren't guilty of driving the car are not found guilty."

You need documented proof if you weren't driving the car. Kennedy says you can get a letter from whoever you were with at the time.

Violators would be fined $50 dollars but it wouldn't go on their driving record.

From the state Capitol, I'm Bente Birkeland.