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In 2003, 109 people died in collisions caused by Florida motorists running red lights.

My husband, Mark Wandall, was one of these fatalities.

This reckless behavior grows worse, and that's why I've formed the STOP Red Light Running Coalition. This group includes over 35 organizations including the Florida Insurance Council, the Florida Sheriff's Association, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Florida League of Cities, Florida Suncoast SAFE KIDS Coalition, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Partnership for Safe Driving, Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, and The Mark Wandall Foundation.

We've been encouraging Gov. Jeb Bush, members of the Florida Legislature and others such as yourself to pass a law to prevent the senseless loss of lives on Florida's roadways.

The Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act would give cities the right to safely enforce traffic laws by using red-light cameras to photograph violators and issue citations to vehicle owners. The legislation also provides harsher penalties for repeat offenders.

Previous attempts to allow photo enforcement have gone nowhere because members of our Legislature oppose them. State law already allows cameras to catch motorists who "forget" to pay their highway tolls. Why the double standard?

Toll-violation cameras ticket the vehicle owner (not the driver) the same as red-light cameras would. If toll-violation cameras don't violate any constitutional rights, neither do red-light cameras. Isn't saving a life any more important than a $1 toll?

An invasion of privacy? Courts have said that motorists on public streets don't have expectations of privacy.

Besides, these cameras are only activated after the car runs the light, and only the rear license tag is photographed, not the driver or passenger.

If I weren't driving my car, am I held liable for the citation? Under this legislation, you'd have the opportunity to transfer responsibility to the actual driver.

Courtesy of Melissa Wandall

Melissa Wandall and her late husband, Mark.

Will rear-end crashes increase?

There have been increases in rear-end collisions at monitored intersections but they're far less severe than the T-bone impacts caused by accelerating red-light runners.

Put responsibility back on the mo torists. They're driving too fast, and following too closely.

Our leaders have a responsibility to protect their constituents and stop this dangerous driving practice. Using photo enforcement would make motorists think twice before pressing the gas pedal, and would free up our police to better serve communities where they're needed most.

Join the STOP Red Light Running Coalition. Contact your lawmakers and voice support for HB259/SB2614.

Visit: www.leg.state.fl.us and the STOP Red Light Running Coalition: www.orgsites.com/fl/floridastops

My e-mail address is: melissa@themarkwandallfoundation.com

Thank you.

Melissa Wandall is a resident of Bradenton.