by Kenneth E. Grabowski
It’s back! Another ill-conceived proposal to allow municipalities to issue traffic tickets via unmanned traffic control devices through current House Bill 5315. Uninformed legislators have again proposed the authorization of unmanned traffic control devices. This ugly issue reared its head in 2000 and in 2006, but was properly put to bed.
Unfortunately, the covers have been shaken to awaken this ugly creature. House Bill 5315 would allow 10 pilot programs throughout
the state to issue traffic tickets by the use of an unmanned traffic monitoring device.
POAM has contacted our legislators to inform them of this dangerous legislation. The issuance of citations with the use of unmanned traffic devices eliminates the use of police officers and an officer’s decision on whether a ticket should be issued or not. In many cases, discretion needs to be used. A decision on whether a citation should be issued should be with a trained police officer, not a machine.
Additionally, POAM is concerned that as local units of government look for more ways to raise money, the use of this type of device will not be for traffic safety, but a fundraising machine alienating citizens against law enforcement.
H.B. 5315 was introduced by:
- Representative Ted Hamon from Burton
- Representative Lee Gonzales from Flint
- Representative Richard Hammel from Flushing
- Brenda Clack from Flint
- Alma Smith from South Lyon
- The bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Representative Paul Condino from Southfield.
Call to action!
POAM urges you to contact each of the above representatives who have introduced the bill and Chairman Condino of the Judiciary Committee and advise them of the dangers of this bill and why it should not be implemented.
These representatives can be reached at:
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
or on the internet at http://house.michigan.gov/
