KNOXVILLE, Tenn (WVLT) — Both candidates for Knox County mayor are against traffic cameras.

On Tuesday, former Knox County Sheriff and current mayoral candidate Tim Hutchison announced his opposition to red light and speed cameras.

"It just takes a lot of money out of the local economy,” he told Volunteer TV News. “People are hurting right now and it's not a time to start putting more restrictions on them and more big government on them."

Many East Tennesseans have expressed their frustrations at the traffic control devices that snap pictures of license plates and send tickets to drivers speeding or running red lights.

Currently there no cameras in Knox County outside the city limits of Knoxville and Farragut.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam has a different opinion on the cameras.

“Ultimately it's about safety,” he said. “People are worried we'd increase rear end collisions, but those are down, as well as side collision."

According to the republican gubernatorial candidate, accidents are down 26 percent since the city installed cameras.

Hutchison’s opponent for the republican mayoral nomination is also against the devices. In fact according to current State Senator Tim Burchett, he has an iron clad record of opposition to traffic cameras has been around since the beginning of the debate.

"I'm the only legislature that's passed legislation against red light cameras,” he said. “I've continuously been against them and I welcome his support against this issue."

Burchett's bill limited the maximum fine for getting caught by a camera to $50 dollars. He also passed legislation making red light tickets equal to parking tickets, which means the add no points to your driving record and don’t cause a driver’s auto insurance to go up.

Both candidates also said they would veto any bill passed by the Knox County Commission to install traffic cameras.