HOUSTON -- Note: The following story is a verbatim transcript of an Investigators story that aired on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, on KPRC Local 2 at 10 p.m.

Tonight, Local 2 investigates Houston's red-light cameras. Critics of the new program argue the system is all about bringing in big bucks for the city. So, Local 2 Investigates wanted to know what happens when the city's own vehicles are caught by the cameras.

Investigative reporter Amy Davis is live at the camera that's snared the most government vehicles to explain what she's found.

We'll tell you exactly where we are in just a moment. But first, what we found -- it took us several open records requests and months of digging to show you this.

Here's a quick driving lesson -- red means stop. Green means go. And if you're in Houston, this (camera) flash means you'll owe.

It's $75 for you and I.

But what does it mean if these cameras set up by the city of Houston catch its own city vehicles running red lights?

"I bet you they get connected and they get hooked up and let go and dropped," a driver said.

"A city car? I don't think they'd do anything. They'd probably act like it's not even there," another driver said.

But they are there.

Among the thousands of cars caught in intersections long after the lights turned red, we found school buses, garbage trucks and even police.

"Hopefully they get a ticket like the rest of us cause I know they don't hesitate on sending us one," another driver said.

That's why we asked who's getting tickets and who's paying those fines.

Take a look. Since the first cameras went up last September, police caught and fined 112 government vehicles -- 47 of those driven by city of Houston employees. Twenty-five were Houston police officers.

"Everyone is treated exactly the same," Sgt. Michael Muench said.

While Local 2 Investigates is the first to request the numbers and breakdown of who pays the tickets for city vehicles, Sgt. Michael Muench says he prepared for the scrutiny.

"One of the main things that I wanted to make sure that there wasn't any criticism of was the overall integrity of the program," he said.

Every picture snapped by a red-light camera is reviewed by police.

If the license plate comes back to a government agency or city office, that office must determine who was driving the car.

And just like you, that driver pays the ticket.

"We do process them and handle them just the same as we do the citizens," Muench said.

The only exceptions are, of course, emergencies.

But there's no excuse for the 39 METRO bus drivers who ran red lights.

"As professional drivers, we expect you not to run red lights," said Tangee Mobley with METRO.

And when they do, METRO drivers not only get the fine, they get just two chances.

"(The) first offense is three days suspension," Mobley said. (The) second offense is a five-day suspension. And the third time, they're discharged."

Cameras caught two Houston Fire Department EMS vehicles.

HFD says those drivers paid up.

So did 10 Harris County employees who had no excuse for running red lights.

Even a vehicle from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice blasted through an intersection out of turn.

All say the drivers paid the tickets themselves.

But, it's not just government employees putting themselves in danger.

We found some drivers carrying precious cargo.

Cameras caught five HISD school bus drivers red-handed and two school buses from Alief.

Both districts say the drivers paid their own tickets and got letters in their employee files.

Surprised?

"Nobody should be above the law, that's basic, huh?" another driver said.

So, the next time you're approaching a yellow -- remember these red-light cameras see everything in black and white.

"All groups of people are handled the same," Muench said.

Overall, Houston has fined nearly 29,000 people -- just over 100 of those went to people driving government vehicles.

The red lights those vehicles ran more than any other is at the intersection of the Southwest Freeway and Fountainview.

Right now, there are 30 red-light cameras in Houston. HPD says 10 more will be installed by the end of March.

The last 10 cameras, bringing the total number to 50, will be up and running by the end of April.