Posted on: Friday, January 18, 2002

GOP lawmakers: Kill traffic cameras

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Senate Republicans yesterday said they want to abolish the traffic camera program targeting speeders.

The traffic camera bill was included in a package of legislation unveiled by the three-member Senate minority yesterday. The bill would repeal the traffic enforcement demonstration project, in which a private contractor takes pictures of speeders and autos that run red lights and mails car owners a traffic citation. The bill would also prohibit such programs from enforcing the speed limit in the future.

Public outrage over the cameras has prompted some lawmakers to look at raising the speed limits. Senate Transportation Chairman Cal Kawamoto, D-19th (Waipahu, Pearl City), said he is still in favor of continuing the pilot program and he's inclined to ask transportation officials to only review speed limits.

The Senate GOP also wants to:

• Give school principals direct control of repair and maintenance money; and decentralize the public school system and create locally elected school boards.

• Double the limit on charter schools to 50 and increase the per-student financing allowance.

• Eliminate the Public Utilities Commission and create an energy commission to begin diversifying energy sources.

• Dismantle the state Land Use Commission and give its responsibilities to the counties.