By
The Associated Press
PHOENIX - Arizona lawmakers want to increase the penalty for running red lights in a bid to reduce traffic deaths.
A bill introduced in the Legislature would increase fines for red-light violations, allow cities with photo traffic-enforcement to ticket violators by mail and change the definition of what constitutes an intersection.
"There have to be much higher penalties because the consequences of running a red light are so dire," said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Arizona's red-light running death rate is the nation's highest, at 7.1 per 100,000 people, from 1992-98, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Phoenix is the nation's worst city for red-light deaths, with 10.8 per 100,000 people. Mesa, 7.8, is third; Tucson, 7.6, is fourth.
The proposed legislation would double the fine for red-light accidents resulting in a serious injury to $1,000 and increase it to $2,500 from $1,000 if the crash causes a death.
