Despite vocal opposition, Apopka city commissioners vote 3-2 to renew the city’s red-light surveillance program for up to five more years.

Drivers motoring through Apopka must stay vigilant while approaching a red light and should think twice about trying to scoot through on yellow.

Despite vocal opposition, Apopka city commissioners voted 3-2 Wednesday night to renew the city’s red-light surveillance program for up to five more years.

“I think it’s a safety program,” said Mayor Joe Kilsheimer, responding to critics who decried the intersection cameras as an un-American and unconstitutional money grab.

Apopka’s program, which poured $965,000 into city coffers last year, would have ended this year if commissioners hadn’t renewed the city’s contract with its red-light camera vendor, American Traffic Solutions.

The city’s traffic cameras caught about 33,000 red-light runners last year, many making right turns.

Several other Florida cities have gotten rid of the controversial cameras, including Clermont, Daytona Beach and St. Petersburg.

Orange County, which uses 50 red-light cameras at 35 intersections, is in the process of renewing its contract for another two years, said Alyssa Eide of the county’s traffic-engineering division.

Using its cameras, the county issued 79,134 notices of red-light violations last year, Eide said.

Legislators also debated a repeal of the law authorizing the use of the cameras by cities and counties, but the measure died in the Senate.

Camera critics vowed not to give up.

“These red-light machines have nothing to do with liberty,” said Edward Wagner, 61, who addressed Apopka city commissioners while wearing a bright T-shirt bearing the slogan “Red light cameras: the work of evil politicians.” Fellow foe Wayne Jackman called the cameras “Darth Vader.”

Wagner put fliers on the windshields of vehicles in the City Hall parking lot. The notice calls for the ouster of elected Apopka officials who voted for red-light cameras.

Wagner said he intended to distribute similar fliers that included photos of Kilsheimer and Commissioners Diana Velazquez and Doug Bankson, who voted for keeping the cameras.

Apopka police Capt. Randy Fernandez, who presented the case for renewal, defended the surveillance devices as a way to make roads safer.

The city has 21 cameras monitoring 10 of its busiest and statistically most dangerous intersections.

“It’s a tool that helps us modify behavior,” he said. “If it makes you think about coming through Apopka and obeying red signals, then it’s successful.”

Commissioner Kyle Becker, who voted against renewing the program, questioned whether cameras have improved safety or just raised money.

He said data compiled by police show violations and crashes have increased over the past five years at intersections monitored by video watchdogs.

Fellow Commissioner Billie

Dean said he also voted against renewal because elected officials should respect the will of the people.

Tickets cost a violator $158, of which the city keeps $75. The balance is sent to the state Department of Revenue with $10 from each ticket deposited into an emergency medical services trust fund.

Under the renewed contract, Apopka can opt out of the program anytime after Dec. 1, 2018, without facing a breach-of-contract penalty or if the Legislature bans the devices.

Despite the renewal, Derek Ryan, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Orange County, left the meeting upbeat.

He said many of those who spoke out against the surveillance devices are libertarians.

“We did lose tonight, but it was super close,” Ryan said. “I think we came out of here with a moral victory.”