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A new report casts more doubt about the effectiveness of Red Light Cameras in Florida. As Matt Galka tells us, lawmakers are again pushing to eliminate the program.

The state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report on red light cameras from 2014 to 2015 isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.

276 cameras at intersections across the stat were analyzed. The results – crashes were up overall by 14 percent.

State Senator Jeff Brandes wants a statewide ban.

“We’re not seeing the safety benefits for red light cameras. I believe red light cameras are about revenue, they’re being misused by cities to increase their revenue, they’re essentially a backdoor tax increase,” said Sen. Brandes (R-St. Petersburg).

Brandes sponsors senate legislation for a repeal of the state’s red light camera law. The House version passed its first committee Thursday.

Some local governments have already opted to remove them. They were taken down in Florida’s capital city in September.

But the Florida league of cities says that a statewide ban isn’t the right move. League lobbyist Casey Cook says the cameras are still useful for cities.

“We believe that red light cameras are an important public safety tool, every city in Florida is different,” said Cook.

“I want cities to take the money that they’re getting from red light cameras and put it in intersection safety. Make their intersections safer, don’t fund other government priorities with it, focus on the safety,” said Brandes.

Rear end crashes, crashes causing serious injuries, and crashes involving bikes all went up according to the report. The report noted that crashes are up overall across the state.