Do you think the government has expanded its law enforcement surveillance too far? Many jurisdictions across the country are now employing the use of both red light cameras and speed enforcement cameras.
Tennessee recently weighed in on the use of such equipment on federal interstate highways. Public Chapter 389, signed by Governor Bredesen on June 9, 2009, permits traffic surveillance enforcement in certain situations. This new law amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-8-198 to provide certain exceptions permitting the use of surveillance cameras on federal interstate highways. One exception states “when employees of the department or construction workers are present, surveillance cameras [may be] used to enforce or monitor traffic violations within work zones designated by the department of transportation; provided, that such cameras shall be operated only by a state entity.”
It is important to note that the new law, which allows the issuance of citations such as speeding tickets and red-light tickets, does limit the use of traffic enforcement cameras to only work zones when department employees or construction workers are present.
