January 17, 2012 09:10 PM UTC

So Much For "Local Control," Sen. Renfroe?

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Fort Collins Coloradoan reports:

Red-light cameras and camera radar could become a thing of the past if a Republican lawmaker gets his way.

Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, proposed a bill last week that would ban the use of automated cameras on streets and highways in Colorado municipalities, citing safety concerns. The bill would not affect the use of cameras on toll roads and HOV lanes.

Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, said the bill would leave what he believes should be a local decision up to the state Legislature.

“I think it ought to be up to local communities to determine whether or not they’d like to employ the technologies available,” Fischer said. “It’s the state coming in and taking away a community policing tool. That’s a violation of the concepts and principles behind local control.”

Setting aside personal opinions about the use of red-light cameras (because we know that won’t be unanimous), Rep. Randy Fischer’s got a point about the hypocrisy inherent in arch-conservative Sen. Scott “Leviticus” Renfroe proposing stripping local governments of the option to deploy cameras in their community. “Local control” is a usually sacrosanct principle among Republican lawmakers, especially when they need a reason to vote no on something.

Of course, if you ask Sen. Renfroe about civil unions, concealed-carry permits, abortion, we could go on…you start to question how Sen. Renfroe really feels about “local control.”