The Massachusetts Legislature is considering a bill that would allow cities and towns to opt into automated red-light cameras to enforce violations such as running red lights, illegal turns on…

The Massachusetts Legislature is considering a bill that would allow cities and towns to opt into automated red-light cameras to enforce violations such as running red lights, illegal turns on red, speeding, and blocking intersections.

Massachusetts Sen. William Brownsberger, D-Belmont, is sponsoring the proposal.

"We just can't get enough officers on the street to be present and doing the speed enforcement and the red-light enforcement, and people know that," Brownsberger said in a statement shared with NewsCenter 5 WCVB.

The vehicle's owner would be liable for any fines incurred, regardless of who was driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. Fines would range from $25 to $150, with revenue directed to the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund, according to a Telegram & Gazette report.

Additionally, location decisions would be made by city or town votes. Municipalities would publish annual reports detailing camera locations and safety data.

Proponents of the bill acknowledge concerns about cost and privacy but point to safeguards, including destroying violation photos within 48 hours after a case gets resolved.

"I think it's really significant to note that the ACLU has said, 'We're fine with this legislation. We don't have a problem with this,'" Brownsberger added. "This is completely different from some of the big brother license plate reader systems that people have a problem with."

The push to automate traffic enforcement in Massachusetts fits within a broader national trend. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia already permit red-light cameras, according to a CDC report.

The bill has cleared the Senate Transportation Committee with a favorable report and is awaiting action in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Its fate for the current session, however, remains unclear.