The city of Orlando has asked the Florida Supreme Court to take up an appeal of a lower-court ruling that rejected a local red-light camera ordinance.
Orlando filed a notice with the Supreme Court on Friday, two weeks after the 5th District Court of Appeal ruled that the ordinance conflicts with state law.
A circuit judge also earlier ruled against Orlando and Lasercraft, Inc., a company that installed the cameras aimed at cracking down on drivers who do not stop at red lights.
The appeals-court ruling said, for example, that the ordinance conflicted with state traffic laws because it allows city code-enforcement officers to review photos and help determine whether infractions have occurred. As another example, it said hearings are conducted by attorneys appointed by the city.
Michael Udowychenko challenged the ordinance after getting cited for running a red light in 2009 and taking the matter to a hearing officer.
The Supreme Court also is considering a similar red-light camera case from the city of Aventura. In that case, a divided 3rd District Court of Appeal last year ruled in favor of the city in a challenge to the legality of its ordinance. Motorist Richard Masone, who was cited in 2009 for a red-light violation, contends that state law bars the ordinance.
