LANSING- Flint and other Michigan drivers could have more “eyes” watching them as they pass through busy intersections.

Four Genesee County representatives are sponsoring a bill that would put cameras in high-crash areas to detect traffic violations.

Rep. Ted Hammon, D-Burton, has proposed a trial period to monitor intersections, which will be determined after there is a solid budget in place for next year.

“The worst 10, geographically diverse, intersections across Michigan would have cameras,” Hammon said. But if money isn’t available, fewer cameras would be placed, he said.

Signs alerting drivers would be posted before cameras are activated.

Police will collect the information at intersections.

The cameras would have sensors to detect higher speeds and could be used to give tickets. License plates can be seen through magnification, Hammon said.

The proposal calls for issuing tickets for violators but no points would be added to the driver’s record if no officer were present.

Hammon said the cameras would give police another tool and, if successful, could lead to fewer traffic patrols. Cameras would free police to solve more serious crimes, he said.

Reps. Richard Hammel of Mount Morris Township, Lee Gonzalez of Flint Township and Brenda Clack of Flint, all Democrats, are co-sponsors of the bill.

Vickie Rose, a secretary in the Traffic Division of the Flint Police Department, said the highest crash intersection in Flint was North Dort Highway at Robert T. Longway Boulevard with 17 crashes this year.

Most of the crashes come from drivers running red lights, or attempting to get through a yellow light before it turns red, she said.

The No. 2 crash intersection this year, which was No. 1 last year, is Van Slyke Road at 12thStreet with 16 crashes. The previous year there were 31.

The Office of Highway Planning and Safety’s communication manager, Anne Readett, said the intersections with the most accidents in Michigan from 2004 to 2006 were at: East Woodward Avenue and University Drive in Pontiac, Telegraph and West 12 Mile roads in Lathrup Village, Southfield and West 11 Mile roads in Southfield, Orchard Lake and West 12 Mile roads in Farmington Hills and East 11 Mile and Van Dyke roads in Center Line.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2005 the counties that had the most intersection accidents were: Dickinson, Grand Traverse, Bay, Midland, Berrien, Kent, St. Joseph, Lenawee, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Genesee.

A goal of the camera test is to see if traffic habits will change and possibly save lives, Hammon said.

Among cities using traffic cameras are: Cincinnati, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Atlanta, New York City, Seattle and Washington D.C., according to a site that shows live camera feed on various highways and roads in the aforementioned cities, www.trafficland.com.

The bill is pending in the House Judiciary Committee.