Red light cameras could be coming to Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — A bill has been introduced to City Council that would bring red light cameras to Pittsburgh.

Channel 11’s Brittny McGraw reported that the General Assembly approved legislation that gives local leaders in Pittsburgh and about a dozen other communities across the state the right to decide if they want to start installing red light cameras.

According to Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE, councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith recently introduced legislation to install the cameras throughout the city.

Drivers around Pittsburgh gave McGraw mixed reactions about the possibility of the cameras.

"They should have them at every light because too many people are getting hit," one local driver said. "I got hit and nobody saw it. But, if we had a camera up there, I'd know who hit my car."

In most communities, the red light program uses cameras that capture several images of a driver running a red light. A ticket is then issued through the mail using the car's license plate number.

"I think it's an invasion of people's privacy," Rosa Williams-Clark said. "Is that all they're going to do? Or are they going to take a picture of your license plate and do other things with it?"

Pittsburgh's City Council is expected to discuss the issue next week. Officials said the public will have a chance to weigh in on the debate coming up at a hearing later on.

WPXI