A bill eliminating red light cameras in Florida passed in a key Senate committee vote Thursday.

The bill, known as SB 168, repeals the 2010 Mark Wandall Safety Act, which allowed the use of "traffic infraction detectors", a.k.a. red light cameras, to be used to enforce traffic laws.

The bill was put forward by Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation. Brandes has in the past referred to red light cameras as "a backdoor tax increase."

"Local governments and the legislature are addicted to the revenue red light cameras generate," Brandes said in a statement. "I'm proud to join my colleagues in the House of Representatives as we advance the repeal of this unnecessary and intrusive program."

Brandes also pointed out that red light cameras have shown little benefit to safety in the areas that use them.

"Accidents are up at intersections with the cameras," said Brandes. "These programs have yet to demonstrate any added safety value whatsoever."

The bill passed in the Senate committee by a 4-3 vote.

Melissa Wandall worked tirelessly to help save lives by getting the Traffic Safety Act passed in her husband’s name. She says leaders trying to repeal the act hurts, especially with them passing it when they did.

“Today, February 4th the Senate is making a decision to take these cameras down should’ve been my husband’s 43rd birthday so he should be here today. But he’s not here because somebody made the decision to run the red light and take his life,” she said.

The bill to repeal the red light cameras still has to go through a number of obstacles before it passes. But Wandall is hoping it doesn’t make it that far.

“Red light cameras absolutely prevent people and educate people and remind them to stop on red again and the end result is we save lives,” she said.

For more information on SB 168 visit http://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/0168