Gov. John Hickenlooper this week vetoed bills that sought to curb the use of red-light cameras and photo radar systems across the state.

But bill sponsors vowed to continue efforts to rein in the use of automated vehicle identification systems that they believe Colorado voters would reject if given the opportunity.

House Bill 1098 would have required voter approval for cities to use the technology. Senate Bill 276 served as an outright ban of the systems.

Hickenlooper wasn’t fond of either effort, saying through a June 3 press statement that the bills “go too far.”

“Speeding and disregard for traffic signals are a danger for all drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians,” the governor said. “These actions have very real, at times fatal, consequences. While not always popular, when used correctly, radar and red-light cameras make roads safer.”

Hickenlooper’s vetoes came as no surprise. While the bills were making their way through the Legislature, the governor sent a letter to legislative leaders expressing his concerns.

The bills were opposed by law enforcement agencies and representatives from municipalities who stressed that red-light camera and speed photo radar technology enhance public safety. Those who testified at committee hearings argued that the systems reduce traffic accidents at busy intersections and perhaps even save lives.

Sam Mamet, who is the executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, praised Hickenlooper’s vetoes of the bills “as keeping an important public safety decision in the hands of elected officials who best know their community.”

City representatives were critical of efforts to allow the same voters who dislike getting traffic tickets to decide whether their cities can use them.

“A city council is the proper forum to decide issues of local neighborhood traffic safety enforcement,” Mamet said.

But the bills received support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, many of whom blasted the use of the technology as an infringement to privacy, due process rights and a way for cities to boost revenues.

An outright ban on the devices, which was sought through Senate Bill 276, may not have appealed to everyone. But lawmakers were hopeful that the governor would allow local voters to decide the technology’s fate.

“If the citizens wanted to have red light cameras, they could support it,” said Rep. Steve Lebsock, D-Thornton, who helped sponsor the legislative efforts.

Sen. David Balmer, R-Centennial, another sponsor of the legislation, said, “Everyone knows these cameras are very controversial.”

“I wish that we could find common ground with the governor on this because voters across Colorado are really frustrated with red-light cameras.”

The bills changed through the legislative process, which complicated their advancement. Senate Bill 276 originally sought voter approval for the technology, but the bill was amended to an outright ban in the House. The House version, which originally was a ban, was amended to a voter approval bill in the Senate.

The bills did not receive final passage until the final day of the session, May 6, making it difficult for further changes.

Balmer said lawmakers from both chambers should communicate early in next year’s session to come to an agreement on a single effort.

And Balmer said he will be introducing another bill next year that will aim to put the decision in voters’ hands.

“I think it became a stronger effort once we shifted to allowing voters to decide,” Balmer said. “Going forward, the discussion is always going to be about a bill that would allow voters to have a say.”

The governor’s statement provided guidelines of what he would accept in any legislation that is put forth next year.

He said that legislation “should require” that cities use revenue from automated vehicle identification systems for public safety purposes and not for general-operating funds.

Hickenlooper also said any legislation next year should limit the use of photo radar systems and red-light cameras to school and construction zones and “areas with disproportionately high traffic and pedestrian accidents, injuries and fatalities.”

The governor also ordered the Colorado Department of Transportation to study the use of the technology.

— Twitter: @VicVela1