Red Light Cameras: Why it is all about money.

Notice how far from the corner this sign is.
We have been told that red light cameras are all about safety.  It's a great pitch - who is against "safety?" The problem is that it just does not add up to be about saving lives and injuries because...
...If they wanted to do that there are several inexpensive things they could do that would make these intersections safer, albeit, less profitable.

1. Extend the length of the duration of the yellow light.

     They should have tried this before they spent million$ installing these cameras.

2. Place Red Light Camera signs at the corners of the intersection.

     Currently they place a sign some distance away from the intersection advising people that the intersection has a camera. However, the overwhelming number of citations issued are for "right on red" turns.  If this practice is so dangerous (turning right on red) why not place another sign at the corner where the right on red turns are being made? Or just make turning right on red illegal!

3. Place red light cameras at dangerous intersections.

     As noted in #2, the overwhelming number of infractions that they cite people for are for "right on red" turns.  If you take the time to notice, these cameras are at intersections that have a prevalence of right on red turns rather than being placed at "dangerous" intersections - those intersections with the most amount of accidents.

4. Don't allow violators to pay a reduced "fine" to expunge their record.

     Currently, if you run one of these intersections and are caught you will be given a notice asking you to pay $158.  The address for this payment is typically and out-of-state address.  If you pay this you will not receive points on your license, hell! you won't even have this sent to DMV.  Hint: They just want this money... But if you don't pay you will be issued a citation and be asked to pay $262. Hint#2: Hire an attorney and fight this.

5. Don't have a third-party company monitoring the cameras.

     If this is about safety and a camera can see an accident occur in real time, how does it make sense to have an Arizona or New York company employee monitoring the camera? Would we not want the "enforcement" officers watching so when that accident occurs an ambulance, paramedics, and police can be called out immediately? (and they could also note the time so they could testify to it, maybe...)

The reality is that these cameras are placed not at dangerous intersections but at intersections where the installing company has told the municipalities where the most money will be made. The municipalities place the minimum amount of signage (as required by statute) in distant (and sometimes obscured) places. They do all this with the hope that they can charge people for safely turning right on red.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Handcuff Key, another obscure "Tag! Your Guilty" crime.

There is a Florida Statute that penalizes you for simply possessing a handcuff key. It is found in section 843.021, Florida Statutes, and is titled, "Unlawful possession of a concealed handcuff key." I'm writing this post because this is the kind of "slow creep" law that the government produces without anyone noticing. Yet year over year they add up making more and more unwitting individuals criminals. This law prohibits the following behavior: Any person who possesses a concealed handcuff key commits a felony of the third degree, punishable by a $5,000 fine and/or 5 years in prison. Notice that the "title" and the "prohibited behavior" of the law says that there an unlawful way to possess a handcuff key when you conceal it. At least that is what I take from it. Luckily, the creators of this crime have included some definitions that cannot be overlooked (but usually are - mainly by law enforcement). The first definition is the “In custo
Read more

Royalty Has It's Privileges

The saga of Drew Dyer seems to have come to an end. Drew was cited for careless driving, a civil infraction with a fine of $166 . According to the Sentinel, Drew ran a stop sign, lost control of his car, and ran it into the side of a house at a speed great enough to cause $20,000 worth of damage. Then, he and his friend(s), after making contact with the home owner but before police arrived, fled the scene. I am now working on the "Drew Dyer Motion to Dismiss." All future "Leaving the Accident Scene" cases will be asking the court to dismiss the case or reduce to careless driving. I like Buddy Dyer. I think he has been a good mayor for Orlando. Much better than Glenda Hood. I don't blame him for influencing the outcome of this case. I think any parent would. However, law enforcement failed miserably. They caved under pressure and that just upsets me. In order for the people to respect law enforcement they have to see integrity in their ranks. This will do not
Read more

Orange County to Add 40 New Red Light Cameras

Image
Recently, the Orange County (Florida) government announced that they will increase the number of Red Light Cameras from 10 to 50 in the near future. (See Orlando Sentinel ). The argument FOR these cameras is that it discourages red light running and, thus, increases safety. The County better hope not. The installation costs are in the millions and the lease rate is $4,750.00 per month, per camera. These cameras cost the municipality $4,750.00 per month. They are bilking us for way more. The Orlando Sentinel, no longer an objective newspaper - rather a political rag, has taken sides in this issue and is squarely behind the installation and the bilking of Orange County residents and visitors for money. They tout that "[t]he move is a dramatic expansion from the 10 cameras already mounted at some of the county's more crash-prone thoroughfares ." I dare them to look at the crash statistics for these intersections and those without cameras. Yes, with the expansion, ev
Read more