If it was about safety...

Lately, there has been some push-back on red light cameras in Florida. Two high ranking legislators want Florida to join 13 other states that ban camera enforcement. This comes after a Tampa Television News channel discovered that the state had, without comment, sneakily reduced the yellow light times to the minimum allowed by a new modified law. (See Noah Pransky). 

Well get ready. These camera companies are about to out spend everyone to convince legislators to keep the cameras. They call it "educating" the representatives. It is actually large donations to re-election campaign funds. 

The stronger the resistance the stronger the municipalities will argue for the cameras to stay. Why not - they are making millions. That would not be so bad if the municipalities were in business. They aren't - they represent us. Apparently, they believe we want them to pick our pockets. 

90% of red light cameras come from cars that miss the light by less than half a second. A fraction that would not be there if the yellow times were put back to what they were in 2010. The municipalities will argue that it is about safety. It is not. When you hear that retort ask them why it is that safety requires a more dangerous intersection. 

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