Red-light cameras to go up near Disney

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Another set of eyes could soon be watching the next time park-goers head to the attractions.

By the end of this week, three more Orange County intersections will get red-light cameras, including two just off Interstate 4 near Disney.

Local tourism workers could likely be stuck paying the most fines.

The county has installed a sign and put a garbage bag over it. Underneath, the sign reads "photo enforcement."

Once the cameras turn on, the county estimates at least 20 to 25 people will be running the light every single day.

Debora Fox said she doesn't plan on being one of them.

She just paid off a red-light camera ticket two weeks ago.

As a local she says if she has to pay, tourists need to also.

"They should have to pay their fair share," Fox said.

Last month, an Eyewitness News investigation discovered 4,000 out-of-town drivers owed more than $1 million in fines since 2010.

If the trend continues for the area, workers at Disney, the hotels and restaurants who run the light will be stuck paying while some visitors don't.

"They are paying thousands of dollars to be here anyway, they'll drive out of town and they won't pay for it," Fox said.

The county said it works with other states to get out-of-state drivers to pay, but enforcement varies state to state.

While that makes drivers like Fox a little angry, she realizes there's only so much that can be done.

"And once they are out of our state, it's going to cost us more to try to recuperate that loss than it is to just write it off," Fox said.

The cameras that will be installed at State Road 535 and Palm Parkway are just two of seven that will be installed in other tourist areas over the next several months.

WFTV