Red Light Cameras

[milo hobgoblin]

75$ ??!?!?!!? HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA


The fine for a red light camera violation in San Diego is 350 DOLLARS!!!!


HUGE invasion of privacy ... not to mention the company that makes them gets 75 dollars for each ticket... one company was caught placing the sensors too far back so people got tickets for making the light but not wuite enough.. (they were running late yellows)

Most traffic laws have NOTHING to do with safety.. and EVERYTHING to do with revenue collection.. any honest cop (ya good luck there) will even tell you that.

In San Diego.. some of the red light camers have yellows taht are so short no common vehicle could slow from the speed limit to a stop in the time they change.


GRRR I FUCKING HATE THOSE CAMERAS

 

[bluepeter]

Im against.. but really shocked i never got caught yet

How can you be against it? You enjoy running red lights? You think it isn't dangerous?

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

I don't necessarily have a problem with red light cameras. The potential problem is that the philosophical underpinnings of the ideas of traffic control are changing.

When traffic lights were created, they were created to allow for the increased flow of traffic in an orderly manner. It was not about law enforcement.

Since then, law enforcement has gravitated to the highest revenue producing activites: traffic stops, asset seizures, and the like.

The installation of red light cameras is not about "safety" anymore than the war on drugs is about protecting the children. It is about increasing revenues and the ever increasing encroachment of law enforcement, nothing more.

Our pendulum has swung from liberty toward security and I hope it swings back.

 

[WODIN]

Why is a redlight camera an invasion of privacy? You're driving in public.

I don't care. I slow down and stop and if I get re-ended I'm so going to own someones ass.

 

[*MissFit*]

I'm joking i haven't gotten a ticket.. i don't run red's.. my car is new.. and don't intend on havin it smashed or hurting someone

How can you be against it? You enjoy running red lights? You think it isn't dangerous?

 

[milo hobgoblin]

The law CANNOT take pictures of the inside of your car. PERIOD.. even for an infraction. Its an invasion of privacy, period.


and Matt

" I hope it swings back."

Instead of hoping lets hope someone with your resources will actually "DO" instead of just hope.

 

[bluepeter]

I don't necessarily have a problem with red light cameras. The potential problem is that the philosophical underpinnings of the ideas of traffic control are changing.

When traffic lights were created, they were created to allow for the increased flow of traffic in an orderly manner. It was not about law enforcement.

Since then, law enforcement has gravitated to the highest revenue producing activites: traffic stops, asset seizures, and the like.

The installation of red light cameras is not about "safety" anymore than the war on drugs is about protecting the children. It is about increasing revenues and the ever increasing encroachment of law enforcement, nothing more.

Our pendulum has swung from liberty toward security and I hope it swings back.

I agree that it is all about revenue. All traffic/parking violations are. At the same time, people behaving in a dangerous manner need to be slapped occasionally.

 

[Y_lifter]

I thought they were fairly well calibrated. Also I heard that if you go to try to contest one, if you try to say well the thing turns too quick they know exactly how long it takes to go from yellow to red and they can tell exactly how far into the intersection you are, and tell how fast you were going and shit.

Yes.. Most all of them work very well.. Same with Toll runner cameras

But it only takes one F'ed up camera or any technology really, to cause doubt and for the knee jerking politicians to pull them all ..

Bottom line IMO as to the cause of traffic accidents generally ..

*Lack of Attention or concern for fellow vehicles around you.

*Aggresssive driving Outside the bounds of either the drivers Skill/vehicles capability and or the conditions on the road..

I agree with Smurf and MTS..
Don't run a traffic control device and you won't have any problems with this situation.

 

[Y_lifter]

So, instead of $ penalties to make an impact on people that they should follow traffic control devices for the good of all to get where you want to as quickly as possible, we should do what ?

Ask really really really nice ?
Take away the priviledge of driving for infractions ?
Allow anarchy to rein free on the roadways ?

Instead of saying ticketing is just a revenue generator and not really a means
to stress safety and efficiency, give us some suggestions to attain the end goal of traffic control and safety.

Also part of the issue is poor understanding of the laws in effect
that drivers should be compliant with. In Fla I am glad they are going
to a graduated system of licensing to allow the 16 year olds to slowly
get skilled in driving vs just tossing them out there to get killed..

 

[Lumberg]

I don't necessarily have a problem with red light cameras. The potential problem is that the philosophical underpinnings of the ideas of traffic control are changing.

When traffic lights were created, they were created to allow for the increased flow of traffic in an orderly manner. It was not about law enforcement.

Since then, law enforcement has gravitated to the highest revenue producing activites: traffic stops, asset seizures, and the like.

The installation of red light cameras is not about "safety" anymore

I disagree. I think that many of the politicians who support red light cameras really do want to increase safety. And some just want the money, but they come together to create the cameras.

The reason why the companies that make the cameras get $$ is because the government doesn't have to pay for it.

I still think automated traffic enforcement devices should be allowed, but only when clearly marked. I think this solves the problem of it being for money; if they are clearly marked then it's obviously to get people to slow down, not to "catch" people and make money. If you fail to pay attention to the signs AND break a law, you get what's coming. Don't like being monitored by big brother? Take a different route, or don't drive. Don't like the fact that you have to go out of your way or hitch a ride? MOVE.