(Image source: LA Times)

BY MALLORY PERRYMAN

You're watching multisource US video news analysis from Newsy.

In more than 500 intersections across the U.S.-- red light cameras stand guard-- warning drivers to stop, or smile.

But from LA- to Houston- drivers-- and lawmakers are questioning the cost and effectiveness of the digital ticket-generators.

According to NBC’s Alex Johnson- opponents of the cameras argue they are just revenue engines- relying on drivers to pad city budgets.

“...while guidelines issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say revenue is an invalid justification for the use of the eyes in the sky, camera-generated citations do spin off a lot of money in many cities...”

But the red light revenue doesn’t always cover the costs-- as NBC’s Kerry Sanders points out.

Kerry Sanders (NBC): “In Pembroke Pines, Florida, a recent city report revealed that right light cameras at four intersections cost more than $83,000 but the cameras have only earned slightly more than $76,000. And it only gets worse when you factor in the contractor who installed the red light system gets a cut from every ticket.”

In LA- the city council is deadlocked in a debate about whether to nix LA’s 32 red light cameras. KPCC reports- critics say most of the $400 red-light tickets are issued to drivers who don’t come to a complete stop before a right turn.

“The Police Commission has concluded that there is no evidence that the cameras improve safety, and that the city has not realized the larger revenue it expected. Councilman Dennis Zine notes that judges in L.A. refuse to enforce camera-issued tickets, so in essence, the fine is voluntary.”

But cost is only one part of the debate-- the decision-makers ultimately want to know--do red light cams prevent accidents?

That answer is hard to come by-- a study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concluded that the cameras reduced the rate of fatal crashes by 24 percent in 14 big cities.

But the National Motorists Association rounded up several studies that say just the opposite-- red light cameras increase the rate of accidents.

While the data may be contradictory- drivers in Houston were clear when they voted to turn off their city’s red light cameras. But a year later- a judge ruled the petition invalid-- putting the city in a tough spot.

“Turn the cameras back on and the Kubosh brothers- who filed the original petition- promise another fight in court.  Keep the cameras off, and the city will most likely have to pay the camera vendor, ATS, millions of dollars in damages.”

Most states don’t have laws authorizing the use of red light cameras- so it’s mostly up to the cities to decide whether or not to install the silent sentries.

Transcript by Newsy.