Senate Endorses Bill to Ban Red-Light Cameras, But Don't Rejoice Yet

State Senator Jim Lembke (R - South St. Louis County) saw his long struggle to outlaw red-light cameras clear a major hurdle yesterday.

For the first time, the Senate endorsed Lembke's bill SB637 to ban the cameras throughout Missouri. The Senate voted 23-8 to tack Lembke's ban onto a broad transportation bill that includes banning all drivers from texting while driving. (Missouri already prohibits teenagers from texting and driving.)

Lembke tells the Springfield News-Leader that momentum is in his favor after the state Supreme Court recently ruled against the way Springfield enforces tickets generated from its red-light cameras.

"It's back on the radar screen because of the Supreme Court taking the case," Lembke says.

But don't go blasting through any intersections yet.

The bill now goes to committee for review and would need to clear final votes in the Senate and House before going to the governor's desk for passage. And as the AP reports today, Senate leaders say the red-light camera ban likely won't stay in the transportation bill.