Pinellas Clerk Asks Gulfport to Stop Writing Red Light Camera Tickets

Pinellas County Clerk of Court Ken Burke is asking Gulfport and five other cities to stop writing tickets for red light violations, arguing there are flaws in the system and that his office is spending a disproportionate amount of time dealing with the fallout from violators.

"These citizens are upset with the poor communication, insufficient information and resulting unfair penalties," Burke wrote in a letter dated Feb. 20 to city leaders in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Gulfport, Kenneth City, South Pasadena and Oldsmar.

Burke said a significant number of red light violations are issued erroneously to the owner of a vehicle, not the driver. Further complicating the matter is the number of rental car companies that receive the notice of violation before passing it onto the driver. Such delays can be costly — if the $158 fine isn't paid within 30 days it becomes a uniform traffic citation that jumps up to a $264 fine, Burke said.

Burke also argues that red light cameras create an "ill will" in visitors to the area, relating the story a photographer from Delray Beach who got a traffic ticket while doing business in St. Pete in a rental car and resented that he wasn't notified until the deadline for paying the $158 fine had passed. The photographer will no longer bring his business the Pinellas County, Burke said.

"It is up to us in government to represent the interests of our citizens," Burke wrote. "When a statute which is discretionary to implement is so flawed, it should not be implemented."

In January, Gulfport officials said the city's cameras at three intersections have helped significantly reduce the number of injury crashes.

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