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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Lawmakers Pass Red Light Camera Bill

The South Dakota House of Representatives granted final approval on legislation aimed at banning the use of red light cameras in the state. Democratic State Representative Peggy Gibson says red light cameras could still be enforced but they’d have to be purchased, set up and monitored by the city who wants them.

"It says basically that no state, county, municipal or township can contract with a private corporation such as “Red Flicks” for photo monitoring devices. [This] way South Dakota dollars don’t go out of the state," Gibson says.

Gibson and other proponents to this bill feel the expenses of administering the red light cameras is too much and therefore no communities will put them up. Gibson says red light cameras don’t punish the driver, they punish the person who is registered to a particular vehicle. The South Dakota House approved this bill 64-6 and it goes next to the Governor.

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and two kids Braxan and Jordy, live in Canton, SD.