HOUSTON -- Houston City Council gave the green light Tuesday to a controversial ordinance to put cameras on traffic lights to catch red-light runners, Local 2 reported.

City leaders hope to cut down on accidents at dangerous intersections across the Houston area.

The cameras will capture the license plates of drivers who run red lights. Those drivers will then get a civil citation, a $75 ticket, in the mail.

Two city council members voted against the proposal.

"I'm hopeful it's going to work. But if we're talking about changing people's behavior, hit them where it hurts. If you're convicted of running a red light two or three times, your butt goes to jail," said Ada Edwards, a Houston City Councilwoman.

Council member Addie Wiseman also voted against it.

"We're just concerned about the safety of our motorists. We hear it from the public overwhelmingly that people are worried about people running through these red lights. It costs everybody money on their insurance rates. It creates a lot of tragedy," Houston Mayor Bill White said.

The ordinance cannot go into effect for at least 120 days. The city still has to choose a vendor through a bidding process. Citations could begin as soon as April, city officials said.

State Representative Gary Elkins, of Houston, has filed a bill that would prohibit the city from issuing civil moving violations, which could void council's approval.