Legislators in the House lounge prepare for yesterday’s session. From left, Representatives Gregory Schadone, D-North Providence; Raymond Sullivan Jr., D-Coventry; and Raymond Gallison Jr., D-Bristol.

The Providence Journal / Connie Grosch

PROVIDENCE –– The state House of Representatives last night approved a controversial provision to permanently allow red-light cameras at traffic intersections.

The bill, which has yet to clear the Senate, could lead to the expansion of the privately run red-light camera system in cities and towns across the state.

Currently used only in Providence, the cameras automatically photograph motorists who run red lights at marked intersections. The computerized system, run by the Texas-based vendor Affiliated Computer Services, produces a brief video clip and $75 violation that is reviewed by a police officer before being mailed to the vehicle owner.

The General Assembly changed state law in 2005 to allow the red-light cameras, but included a sunset provision that would have outlawed the practice this July. The House last night voted 35 to 23 to lift the sunset provision despite strong opposition.

“This has been a detriment to the City of Providence,” said Rep. Thomas C. Slater, D-Providence, a member of the Finance Committee, which heard testimony last week that the city wasn’t making any money on the program after paying the private vendor $113,000 each month.

“If it is losing money, but improving public safety, then it has a purpose,” House Majority Whip Peter Kilmartin, D-Pawtucket, said during last night’s debate.

City officials have yet to publicly release this year a report required by law detailing the locations of the cameras, citations issued and accidents at the marked intersections.

The American Civil Liberties Union opposed the measure for various reasons, including the potential for government abuse. Photographs of non-violations are kept for three months and violations are kept for up to one year.

Meanwhile, the House last night also voted to amend a law signed by the governor just last week to create a $3,000 fine for truck drivers who cross the Route 95 bridge over the Pawtucket River and the Route 24 bridge over the Sakonnet River.

The legislation still bans vehicles with more than two axles from crossing the aging bridges, but makes an exception aimed at small businesses for two-axle vehicles hauling two-axle trailers.

The chamber voted down a proposal by Rep. John J. Loughlin, R-Tiverton, that would have exempted the Sakonnet River Bridge, which already posts a 22-ton weight limit.

Loughlin and others were concerned about forcing below-weight and even empty trucks to take a circuitous, unnecessary and costly 15-mile detour to or from Aquidneck Island.

“I’m not completely convinced that safety is the underlying issue,” Loughlin said, referring to the projected fine revenue of $600,000 from the new law, which was first adopted recently as part of the mid-year budget revision.

Supporters of last night’s proposal, which was approved 54 to 7, noted a plan to allow drivers of large empty trucks to escape the new rules by posting “empty” signs in their windows. The signs will be distributed by the state trucker’s association, although the law makes no mention of the signs.

In other news, the House last night also approved a bill to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, a move that would automatically register the youths once they turn 18.

The proposal drew strong opposition from Republicans, largely because younger voters are typically Democrats.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

speoples@projo.com