My personal journey within this issue starts as a full-time pre-med student and father of four. I had my license suspended for a ticket issued more than 1.5 years ago for a violation I was never notified of. I was told by a Polk County judge that I had “no advocacy” and was hit with a fee of $400 just to restore my license – without mentioning extra fees to challenge the unjust system. This incident not only threatened my educational progress, almost causing a hit on my GPA, but also strained my family financially, all during our holiday season.

But this isn’t just my story. It represents the ordeal of countless Floridians who are similarly penalized, without being at fault, due to a system that is looking for profit rather than safety. In 2018, the Florida Supreme Court highlighted the abuse of red light camera systems in multiple counties where private companies were handed excessive control. These firms managed systems, determined violations, and collected profits while drivers bore the brunt of the penalties from falsely timed lights and system glitches – two substantial issues among many others.

This system is not formulated to validate safety, but rather to act as a cash cow for private companies at the cost of everyday drivers. We need to amend this now and start prioritizing citizen safety over corporate profits.

Thus, I urge everyone: lend your voice to this cause, stand up against the misuse of red light camera systems, and help put a stop to this unethical practice.

Please sign this petition and let’s give citizens real advocacy that’s clearly missing.