State Rep: Red Light Cameras Only Used To Generate Money

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - State Representative Steve Barrar responded to a story that red light cameras generated over $5 million for the city of Philadelphia in 2015 with criticism that they are designed to make money, not save lives.

Barrar, during an interview with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, accused politicians of scamming the public for higher profits.

"It's about money and you see the gigantic sums of money that these red light cameras are producing for the city of Philadelphia or the local municipalities and for the state of Pennsylvania. I voted against it. I've been opposed to it since its creation and truly, I believe it's unconstitutional. The whole purpose was not for public safety. They hide behind public safety, but the sole purpose of this is to generate the big dollars that you see being sent."

He said there are more effective ways to stop drivers from running red lights

"I think this is absolutely government at its worst, the way it's done. What I've said in the past is that if we had a better way of doing it, if we had a camera at the red light a police officer waiting just past the intersection that pulled you over and gave you a ticket, then we know we're ticketing the driver of the car, not the owner of the car, then I could probably support something like this."

Barrar, a Republican, blamed members of his own party for going along with implementation of the cameras.

"It was all passed under a heavily Republican administration and with a Republican House and Senate and, just like the gas tax did, it's that attitude that we know best and we're going to find a way to separate you from your money. This is just another one of those ways that we're going to reach into your pocket to pay for good causes."