Pensacola Police Monitoring Red Light Camera Ruling

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- The Pensacola Police Department is monitoring a recent court ruling that could impact red light camera enforcement statewide.

A Broward County judge ruled that holding registered vehicle owners responsible for red light violations may be unconstitutional because it shifts the burden of proof to the owner to prove they weren't driving. The ruling is expected to be appealed.

Pensacola operates 13 red light cameras throughout the city. Sergeant Brittany Sturgeon says the department will adjust if the law changes.

"Law enforcement is all about the game of legislature," Sturgeon said. "So if something is ruled unconstitutional, we change the rules of the game and we continue to play. This is no different."

Sturgeon says the red light camera system identifies violations based on the registered vehicle and owner, not the driver. The citations are civil rather than criminal in nature.

"It is solely based on the registered owner of the vehicle based on the license plate," Sturgeon said. "That's where it lies as being controversial."

Challenges to red light camera citations in Pensacola have been minimal. Sturgeon says the most common argument is that the registered owner was not driving at the time of the violation, but under current law, the responsibility falls on the vehicle's registered owner.

The red light camera issue has been controversial nationwide and has been ruled both ways in different states. Sturgeon says the department regularly adapts to legislative changes, comparing it to evolving laws on marijuana and firearms.