Brooksville changing tune on red light cameras

Ironic is the word of the day now that the new state red light laws are going to take effect in July. Ironic because now Brooksville and Police Chief George Turner don't like the content of the new law.

The new law doesn't cite drivers who don't come to a complete stop before turning right as long as they are prudent and don't hinder traffic flow. Saturday's Hernando Today quoted Chief Turner's statistics that more than 60 percent of red light camera tickets or 3,334 of the 5,477 tickets issued were for right on red violations. Now the state of Florida is going to take an $83 cut of the new fines for camera violations, which leaves only $75 of which $40 goes to the light vendors.

Add that up and Brooksville winds up with just $35. Wow! Now Brooksville and Chief Turner are screaming bloody murder and want to renegotiate with the vendor for a bigger cut.

I wonder what happened to the chief's earlier quote, "It's all for safety and not about the money." Ironic, huh?

James T. Woods

Brooksville