Overview

• State senators held a public hearing in Milwaukee on Tuesday, marking the proposal’s first committee consideration with testimony that was mostly supportive but included skepticism.
• The bill would allow up to five cameras in each of the city’s 15 aldermanic districts, ticketing only drivers who run red lights or exceed the speed limit by more than 15 mph.
• Citations would be mailed with fines comparable to traffic stops — roughly $20 to $100 — and the program would expire after five years if authorized.
• Sponsor Sen. Dora Drake says the measure has bipartisan backing, and Mayor Cavalier Johnson is urging passage as a response to persistent reckless driving.
• Some lawmakers and residents questioned whether cameras are the best solution, with Sen. Van Wanggaard pointing to in-person enforcement, and no vote has been scheduled.