During a House Appropriation Committee markup meeting held before the Congressional recess, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) spoke about automated traffic enforcement cameras.
00:00I now recognize Chairman, once I restore order, I now recognize Chairman Womack to offer a Republican on-block amendment.
00:10Yeah, I was going to ask for a roll call vote on that last one, but my cardinal buddy down there.
00:18Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, and I ask unanimous consent that my amendment be considered as read.
00:22Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed.
00:25Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The on-block amendment includes bill and report changes that will further strengthen the underlying bill.
00:31The amendment, among other things, restores the pre-IIJA federal prohibition on red-light cameras,
00:37cracks down on the exploitation of advertising space by Chinese adversaries in transit systems and airports in our nation's capital region.
00:45It also directs federal highways and transit to conduct a study on the harmful impact of New York's congestion pricing on commuters.
00:55This amendment strengthens the underlying text, and we would commend it for your consideration.
01:03I urge a yes vote. I yield.
01:06Thank the gentleman, the gentleman from South Carolina.
01:09Mr. Kleibans, recognize for remarks on the Republican on-block amendment.
01:13Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
01:15Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
01:18I particularly object to the addition of yet another anti-safety rider.
01:25To this bill.
01:27The language would permit funds from being used to purchase, install, or operate traffic safety cameras for red light, speed, or stop sign enforcement.
01:41Traffic enforcement cameras are an effective way of deterring dangerous behavior on our roadways,
01:48and have been proven effective in reducing speeding and crashes.
01:55According to the National Safety Traffic Safety Administration,
02:01there are almost 12,000 deaths and more than 300,000 speed-related crashes in 2023.
02:09And another 1,000 people were killed in crashes as a result of cars running red lights.
02:18The reality is that these enforcement cameras are an effective means to deterring dangerous behavior.
02:26They reduce crashes, they reduce injuries, and they save lives.
02:30Further, the decision on whether or not to spend funds on safety cameras and where to use them is a local issue.
02:42So this committee should not be inserting itself in this argument.
02:47And although I'm in support of much else of this bill, I oppose this amendment and wish my colleagues to vote no.
02:59Now you're back.
03:01Gentleman.
03:02Do any other members seek recognition to speak on the en bloc amendment?
03:09The gentleman from Georgia is recognized to address the amendment.
03:12Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
03:15I rise today in support of the Republican Unblock Amendment,
03:18which includes my amendment that would prohibit funds for the purchase, installation,
03:22or operation of automated traffic enforcement cameras for the purpose of red light, speed, or stop sign enforcement.
03:28My concern is that these cameras provide a presumption of guilt for the accused
03:32without any human evidence to confirm or deny the charges brought against the accused
03:37because they don't actually know the identity of the accused.
03:40They only know who owns the vehicle.
03:42This is guilty until proven innocent, which violates the basic foundation of our legal system,
03:47which is innocent until proven guilty.
03:51Currently, 18 states have banned automatic traffic enforcement cameras,
03:55with many being banned by their state's high courts for lack of due process protections.
04:00For example, the Minnesota Supreme Court seems to agree with my logic
04:04when they prohibited Minneapolis's automated traffic enforcement system in 2007,
04:10ruling that, quote,
04:11it eliminates the presumption of innocence and shifts the burden of proof
04:15from that required by the rules of criminal procedure.
04:19In addition to the due process violations, I have privacy concerns with such cameras as well,
04:25as many of these automated traffic enforcement devices rely on an automated license plate reader
04:30to identify the license plate of the number and reference that with records from the DOV
04:34to then issue these citations.
04:38Finally, I am concerned with the complete reliance on technology to determine the guilt of a crime.
04:43Unsurprisingly, a 2014 investigation by the Chicago Tribune
04:47found that thousands of drivers were wrongly fined $100 for running a red light
04:52because of a technological glitch in the camera's technology.
04:55For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this Republican N-Block Amendment
04:59to prohibit federal funds for the purchase, installation, or operation of these automated traffic devices.
05:06Now, with this amendment, local jurisdictions would still be able to purchase, install,
05:10or operate such devices using their own funds on their own roads.
05:15Simply put, we should not be spending taxpayer dollars to violate our constituents'
05:20constitutional due process or privacy rights.
05:23Thank you, and I yield back.
05:23I thank the gentleman for his remarks.
05:27Do other members seek recognition to speak on the en bloc amendment?
05:33Seeing none, I now recognize Chairman Womack for one minute to close.
05:37In the interest of time, I would just strongly encourage a yes vote.
05:41And before I yield back my time, let me just say to my colleagues here,
05:45District Taco is in the Ag Committee room here in about five minutes.
05:52You're welcome to enjoy lunch, courtesy of my team.
05:56And with that, I yield back the balance.
05:58My time over to a yes vote.
06:00For the purposes just to inform the committee, I think around six,
06:04Mr. Fleischman will also be having dinner brought in.
06:07I hope you get to eat it in luxury, but I'd love it if you weren't any of you here.
06:14And the staff could enjoy the feast, but I don't expect that.
06:17But again, let's just work together, and please come and go as you need to do that.
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