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Despite the best efforts of municipal governments across the country to put a happy face on the effectiveness of red light cameras to improve safety, many city RLC programs are in danger of going extinct according to a report by MSNBC.

The biggest example could be Los Angeles’ red light camera program where a police commission unanimously recommended the program be abolished. Despite the recommendation, LA’s City Council is still arguing whether to renew the vendor’s contract which expires in July.

MSNBC reports another shocking revelation of LA’s program–it costs the city between $1 to $1.5 million a year more than the revenue generated by RLC fines to operate the program according to an audit by LA’s comptroller.

That same report says LA’s program cannot definitely prove it has had any impact on improving safety.

Several other programs around the country are in jeopardy as well. including Houston’s red light camera program is facing an intense legal challenge.

The cable news channel also reports on a handful of RLC safety studies each with a different, if not contradictory conclusions on the effectiveness of this type of technology.

The story’s overall conclusion seems to be that resistance to this ticketing technology is fierce, growing and may be having a positive impact on reducing red light cameras.

Read MSNBC’s full report, “Challenges to red light cameras span US.“