Florida towns jumped at the chance to use new automated traffic cameras to snag drivers running red lights. There’s a hitch, though. The unique design of Florida’s license plates, with their raised numbers and special coating, makes it tricky for cameras to snap a clear picture. It’s like trying to catch a shadow! This issue has likely cost the state around $3 million each year in fines, nudging lawmakers to step up and fix the problem. Curious about what they’ll do next? Dive in to find out more!

Don’t get your hopes up, the traffic cameras are not going away, just the license plates. That’s right, the state of Florida is preparing to issue all new license plates in an effort to make certain those traffic cameras (plus the new ones expected to be installed across south and central Florida) can capture the image perfectly.

Traffic cameras are the bane of any driver who likes to push their luck when the lights start to change, but they have proved to be a boon for police and communities that use them because they work faster than the human eye–and they do it automatically so no police officer has to sit there to catch red-light-runners.

Defensive drivers know better than to run a red light, or fail to yield when the lights begin to change. They understand just how dangerous it is at every intersection and take precautions against collisions. But not all drivers are defensive drivers and these automated traffic cameras help separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to safe and unsafe drivers. Not everyone is happy with these systems, however. Some groups claim they are infringement on personal rights, but courts have repeatedly ruled that these automatic devices are merely there to enforce the laws drivers should be following any way.