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Automotive News & Views Traffic Laws & Enforcement Tactics
540 messages, Last post on Sep 21, 2009 at 12:22 PM
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I'm surprised they don't go after non-signallers...the volume would create some terrific fundage.
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Replying to: fintail (Jul 08, 2006 4:19 pm) 
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Replying to: 210delray (Jul 08, 2006 3:06 pm) |
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Replying to: gee35coupe (Jul 07, 2006 10:29 am) The use of red light cameras are NOT the same as monitoring your credit report, email, or phone conversations. For one thing red light cameras are enforcing a law, they don't effect you unless you break a law.
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Jul 09, 2006 6:22 am) The battle over red light camera tickets in San Diego was argued based upon evidence that the timing of the lights was manipulated in order to create more violators. (The length of a yellow light will affect how many drivers can be cited for running the red light.) Camera enforcement create two basic problems: The results can be manipulated or inaccurate as above, and the accused effectively loses a constitutional right because of the inability to confront his accuser. Unfortunately, governments are eager enough to get the money to play with the former, while the courts will find ways to justify the latter. But when the state gets the chance to generate easy money by citing people with cameras, there will be strong incentives to do it. Laws should be about public safety, but if you can attach a camera to enforcing some of them, don't be surprised if there is increasing focus on revenue generation. |
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And it's even better in those cases where the camera company gets a cut of the revenues. Nothing wrong there...
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Replying to: fintail (Jul 09, 2006 9:36 am) Exactly. It becomes a problem in a democracy when it becomes profitable to turn the common citizen into a criminal. If illegal acts become profitable to the government and to private companies, then the government and those private companies will be motivated to find ways for you to commit more illegal acts so that they can collect the money. The first problem arose when the states changed traffic offenses from being misdemeanors to infractions, because infraction law eliminates the defendant's right to a court-appointed attorney and a jury trial. This change in the system has created this very slippery slope that has gotten to the point that you are now effectively guilty unless proven innocent when it comes to traffic tickets. Tickets are now an important source of revenue, so large that governments develop their budgets based upon the expectation of collecting these fines. The fines have become a substitute for taxes, and because Americans are resistant to tax increases, the government would rather find back-door ways to collect your money than to just be upfront about getting the cash that they want. This can't be good for the integrity of the system. |
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can be justified as a safety measure. But arbitrarily placing speed cameras for the sole purpose of catching someone driving above the speed limit is rather draconian. As has been debated in the other forum, going 10 or so above the speed limit is the norm in most places. Setting up a randomly placed, camouflaged camera to catch every car going above a prescribed speed will only serve to collect revenue. When the ticket comes 2 or three weeks later, I really don't see where safety is being enhanced. I may buy the premise that speed cameras can be justified at certain problem areas where speed may be a hazard such as school zones, but the interstate isn't one of them. Hopefully this technology requires forward facing license, since we don't have those in Ga. |
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Replying to: gee35coupe (Jul 09, 2006 9:56 am) Be careful what you wish for--the legislature might just decide to add forward facing plates. |
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