You could get a speeding ticket without police seeing you, if new traffic camera bill passes in Massachusetts

Some lawmakers are making another push to get drivers to slow down and stop at red lights by legalizing traffic cameras in Massachusetts.

A bill proposed in the state Senate would allow cities and towns to install cameras that take pictures of license plates when someone breaks a traffic law. The system would then send a ticket to the owner of the car.

Among the violations the cameras could catch: Failing to stop at a light that's already turned red, making a right on red where it's not allowed, going 10 mph or more over the speed limit, and blocking an intersection.

Bill sponsor Sen. William Brownsberger of Belmont says there's a lack of enforcement on Massachusetts roads.

"There's a lot of speeding, there's a lot of people going through red lights, there's a lot of people blowing through right turns on reds," he told WBZ-TV. "I do think it's gotten worse over the past few years."

Violators could face fines between $25 and $150. But no points would be added to a driver's license, so insurance rates would not be impacted. To address privacy concerns, the bill only allows cameras to take pictures of license plates - not the driver.

The bill would not let cities and towns make money on the fines; they would simply cover the cost of maintaining the equipment.

"It's not going to be a cash cow for anybody. Municipalities are not going to have any incentive to just throw these up and basically tax people for going through the community," Brownsberger said.

Similar bills have been proposed previously in Massachusetts without success, and the Legislature has a July deadline to get this passed. 

"We need this to start making our roads safer again," Brownsberger said.