Lee Memorial gets its share of red-light fines

Some green is finally trickling in to Lee Memorial’s trauma center from people who have run red lights.

Lee Memorial will receive a $20,000 check from the state Department of Health, hospital lobbyist Keith Arnold told board members Thursday afternoon. The check is Lee Memorial’s cut of about $380,000 collected from October through December 2005 from fines paid by people who ran red lights.

Florida lawmakers increased the fine for running red lights by $65 last year, and about $60 per citation goes into a pot to help fund the state’s 20 trauma centers. The law went into effect Oct. 1, 2005.

Lawmakers chose to levy heavier fines on red light runners because the resulting accidents make up a disproportionate share of traumatic injuries statewide.

They projected the bill would raise about $19 million annually for the trauma centers, which lose about $100 million each year.

Current projections say the red light fines could bring in $15 million to $16 million each year, said Arnold. However, a yearly revenue of $12 million is more likely if the first quarter of 2006 is any indication, he said.

From January through March, the red light fines have raked in 10 times more money than last quarter, or about $3 million, he said. That means Lee Memorial’s second check should be bigger, although he did not say by how much.

“It’s not a significant amount, but it’s a start,” he said.

It took a while for the law to gain momentum because state law enforcement had to adjust to the rule change, he said.

“There’s always an education process,” he said.

Forms also have to be adjusted to reflect the increases, said Jim Nathan, Lee Memorial’s chief executive officer.

The disbursement of the funds also got off to a slow start because the language of the bill was vague when it came to divvying up the money.

The language was clarified this past legislative session when House Bill 7141 passed, Arnold said. HB 7141 states the funds will be divided based on the severity of patients’ conditions and risks of mortality and the cost each center incurs from caring for the patients.

Lee Memorial is the only trauma center between Miami and Tampa. It loses about $10 million annually.