The Texas House Committee on Transportation has passed HB 901, the red light photo enforcement bill. The bill will allow cities to implement a red light camera system connected to traffic signals.

Bill HB 901 is designed to help communities enforce traffic laws by automatically photographing vehicles whose drivers deliberately run red lights. According to the legislation, running a red light will be a civil offense and the owner of the car will be responsible for the offense, similar to a parking ticket. Citations will be sent through the mail and will only contain a picture of the offender's rear license plate taken by a camera in the intersection at the site of the incident.

Cities choosing to implement a photo enforcement program will recover all costs included in the operation and administration of the program. Any excess revenue generated by the program will go directly to the Texas Mobility Fund, which is dedicated to transportation projects throughout the state.

The Texas Department of Transportation estimates the program will bring in approximately $425 million in revenue in the next five years.