'Farfetched,' 'ludicrous': GOP critical of MKE red light camera proposal to reduce reckless driving

 

MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- Would speed enforcement cameras in Milwaukee help crack down on reckless driving?

A bipartisan group of lawmakers and Milwaukee leaders say it would, but prominent Republicans argue the solution is more police officers patrolling the streets – not a camera issuing tickets.

If you run a red light in Wisconsin, you won’t get a ticket unless a police officer sees you. That’s because state laws don’t allow red light or speed tracking cameras.

Milwaukee Democrats Sen. La Tonya Johnson Rep. LaKeshia Myers and Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) are reintroducing a proposal at the state Capitol to change that.

The ‘Safe Roads Save Lives Act’ would allow the Milwaukee Police Department to use radar devices and photo ID cameras to detect when someone is driving over the speed limit or doesn’t stop at a red light.

“We’re not saying this is a panacea, but this is one item that can help us curb reckless driving,” said Myers.

For years Milwaukee Democrats and city officials have lobbied for speed cameras and with an uptick in reckless driving, they say it's time to hold drivers accountable.

While there’s bipartisan support, similar bills introduced in 2019 and 2021 never made it to the floor for a vote.

The proposal is also controversial and unpopular among prominent Republicans, including Assembly Minority Leader Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine).

“To think cameras are going to have a big difference in reckless driving and crime in Milwaukee I think is a little farfetched,” August said.

Wanggaard, a former Racine officer who spent years as traffic investigator, was highly critical of the proposal.

“By putting a camera up and snapping a picture and then getting something in the mail 7 to 10 days later is ludicrous,” Wanggaard said. “Replacing police officers with cameras is not going to solve the issue they have in Milwaukee.”

Last year, Milwaukee had the eighth-highest stolen car theft rate in the entire county, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. If those cars were caught on a speed enforcement camera, Wanggaard argues it would be difficult to track those people down and hold them responsible.

August and Wanggaard believe having a robust police department with more officers would help crack down on crime in Milwaukee.

Myers welcomed the idea of providing resources to the city to hire more police but said too often Republicans reject their policy proposals and lack a desire to help make Milwaukee safer.

“Number one, they don't live in the city of Milwaukee yet they have the ability to legislate and oftentimes dictate the city on how we can help ourselves,” Myers said.

“This is the reverse; we are trying to do something to help ourselves and are asking the state for assistance and to ignore the request of the largest municipality in the state I think is downright egregious.”

Mixed Reviews

Red light cameras in other metropolitan cities have received mixed reviews.

Chicago collected $89 million worth of speed camera tickets in 2021, according to an investigation by the Illinois Policy Institute, a conservative think-tank.

“While these numbers may demonstrate that the collection of money is working as it is intended to, many of the people who have received these fines are left wondering if their steep fine is actually contributing to making the streets safer,” the report states.

Meanwhile, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the speed enforcement cameras have “proved to reduce serious and fatal auto accidents by 15%, showing that there is positive change occurring within the city as a result when it comes to the number of accidents.”

Mayor Johnson in Favor

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson supports red light cameras and has petitioned for them for many years.

"I have supported red light cameras as a valuable tool to support the traffic enforcement our police already do,” Johnson said. “The red light cameras have been part of Milwaukee’s legislative agenda for several years. It's also important to add that combatting reckless driving involves many different approaches.”

Johnson introduced a plan to tackle reckless driving during his mayoral campaign in 2022. He also signed a resolution committing Milwaukee to becoming a "Vision Zero"community -- setting a goal of reducing traffic deaths to zero.

The action plan promises to tackle the problem from several angles, including safer street design, law enforcement and better driver training.