Speed Cameras

[Birds of Prey]

To repeat the answer to your question: These cameras are not about safety, they are about getting some additional money from Joe Citizen.

That's the bottom line answer!!!!!

It's ALWAYS about the $$$'s. "For Your Safety", is the biggest BS line draped over everything today. It cons the mindless sheep into thinking it's a good thing.

[bootsy]

If you're an illegal immigrant in the country, you are committing an illegal act. No one in the GA seems to care about that, so why care about this?

To repeat the answer to your question: These cameras are not about safety, they are about getting some additional money from Joe Citizen.

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What do you know about queuing theory and traffic management?

[docford]

Are you kidding me? Republicans "dont' feel paychecks should be going towards highway safety"? Where else would you have them go? EMS budgets? Employer budgets to compensate for lost productivity? Law enforcement budgets so they can divert their attention to low-level speed-related crimes as opposed to higher-level crimes like guns, burglary, drug abuse, domestic abuse?

Folks, this is an efficiency bill. Efficiency within law enforcement, something we should all cherish in times of competing economic priorities.

I have not seen a single argument that exemplifies the ABILITY of speed camera vendors to abuse the technology. We owe technology to allow us to better micro-target our public health priorities.

Stop allowing Republicans to use 20th century excuses to avoid using 21st century technologies.

Based on documented experiences in D.C. and other municipalities with speed cameras, specifically short-timing lights, I would avoid any locale with speed cameras. This is fund-raising scam with about 25% of the take going to private contractors. There is also the added danger of rear end collisions. Everyone tailgates now, and they yack on their cellphones while doing it. Are you going to slam on your brakes at a yellow light with someone like that two feet behind you. Speed cameras only make a dangerous intersection even more dangerous. They are well-intentioned, but a bad idea.

[pajaroman]

I am tired of illegal behavior behind the wheel.

such as........

[Rrichboy]

My opinion is that if the speed cameras are for those who speed "excessively" then go for it. It is dangerous, and I think they should be ticketed.

[Marlene]

Red light running is an epidemic problem in almost every community.

In FL you actually have to anticipated waiting on moving when the light turns green. Cars in turning lanes refuse to stop when the green arrow turns red.

It is the norm during rush hour for at least four to five cars, running the light in the turning lanes.

Even if the cops wanted to, they could ticket, only a handful of violators in an hour. Very time consuming stopping the vehicle, blocking traffic and so forth.

Cameras are a great idea.

Most communities are very good about informing the public when a camera is installed at an intersection.

Cameras would be a real good idea here in the Panhandle. When I first moved to Pensacola, the county had a "stop on red light" week. All this place needs now is a "drive with a valid license, or have a driver's license week" and "obtain car insurance week". Almost forgot, they could also have a "put a valid license plate on your car week". There are a lot of hit and runs because, down here, you don't need no stinkin' license or insurance. The good news is that if you make it home without incident, and your income is a modest but steady one (like a pension), its somewhat affordable to live here.

[bootsy]

Based on documented experiences in D.C. and other municipalities with speed cameras, specifically short-timing lights, I would avoid any locale with speed cameras. This is fund-raising scam with about 25% of the take going to private contractors. There is also the added danger of rear end collisions. Everyone tailgates now, and they yack on their cellphones while doing it. Are you going to slam on your brakes at a yellow light with someone like that two feet behind you. Speed cameras only make a dangerous intersection even more dangerous. They are well-intentioned, but a bad idea.

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YES, I slam on my brakes when people tailgate. In fact, I had an accident when I was legally on a main street on a rainy night and saw this vehicle pull out from a stop sign on the right after I had started across the side street. The thug in back of me hit me. He started screaming at me. Maybe they were both in cell phone contact and hoping I would hit the
the vehicle and get blamed. They might have been staging an accident. There are people who have the job profession "producer". They can be producing accidents. It was in the area where the second highest man in the Al Quaida Dallas TX Holy Land Charities lived. Also where the guy I had another collision lived/rented.

I know about staged accidents because in the 1970's my mom was in an accident as a carpool passenger with a fellow employee. It was merging onto the Beltway in DC. The cops told them that they have to be careful because there are people who get paid to stage accidents. The idea is that the person who gets hits the rear is the responsible one. So if you know you are going to have an unavoidable accident, keep moving, don't stop. Always get hit from behind. That saved me in Kemp Mill going to work when this red car didn't stop at the stop sign and I saw it and kept on going. He hit me from behind. Funny thing, he was related to a VIP of my corporation. He said "Oh, I'm so&so's cousin."

Another time I was hit by a female insurance person who "anticipated" that I was going to quickly make a left turn onto a busy street.

I always spot tailgaters ahead of me and avoid them like the plague. Of course I avoid busy hours traffic. When I worked late at night, I used to take different routes to get home from the Potomac River to Potomac MD. Spotting Taxis was interesting and avoiding them. Who needs video games to strengthen the brain? You just proved I'm profiling the US "pack" correctly. According to you, your average voter for laws. Of course, "everyone breaks the laws". That's the fun of being a human being. They break the common sense laws of queuing theory.

When you talk about transportation, you should be knowledgeable about queuing theory. At least acknowledge it exists

[Brian]

I am tired of illegal behavior behind the wheel.

I agree but,I'm also tired of big brother tracking every move I make. If I thought for one second that this is about safety I might be inclined to agree but,we all know it's about money.

[Linked]

http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2a.htm

[Linked]

http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2.htm


main page

[WV Orange & Black]

”The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running aims to better inform the public and their elected officials about the seriousness of this all-too-common danger, as well as the law enforcement practices and tools that can make our roadways safer.”

Warning: This video is graphic; fortunately, each individual shown survived.

http://www.stopredlightrunning.com/


”Cameras don't replace traditional traffic enforcement activities, but they do augment law enforcement efforts and address the public perception of the risk of "getting caught." Getting drivers to change behavior requires consistent enforcement, which automated camera systems provide.”

http://www.ghsa.org/html/issues/redl...toenforce.html


”Statement before the Maryland Senate Committee on Judicial Proceedings on Senate Bill 277
Research on Automated Speed Enforcement, February 24, 2009”

”In 2007 the Institute conducted an evaluation of the Montgomery County program using speed
cameras to enforce limits on residential roads with speed limits of 35 mph or lower and in school
zones. The study indicates that the program is helping to reduce speeding. Researchers measured
traffic speeds approximately 6 months before and 6 months after camera enforcement began
in May 2007. The proportion of vehicles traveling more than 10 mph above posted limits fell
by 70 percent on roads where cameras were operational and by 39 percent on roads with signs
warning of enforcement but where cameras were not yet in place.”

”However, a national survey conducted in 2006 by the Insurance Research Council found that 60 percent of US residents favor using cameras to enforce speed limit laws.17 The Institute surveyed Montgomery County residents about the speed camera program, and 62 per-cent supported it. Likewise, the Institute’s survey of Scottsdale, Arizona, drivers found that a majority thought speeding was a problem on Loop 101, and about 70 percent supported the speed camera program. The use of speed cameras throughout Maryland can help police en-force speed limits more effectively.”

http://www.iihs.org/laws/testimony/p...09-02-24_1.pdf


This is not a hard concept to understand, why feed the state? Don’t speed and come to a complete and full stop at red lights. When turning on red, come to a complete and full stop and then and only then, proceed if safe, unless prohibited.

If you get a red light or speed camera citation, you have a right to a court hearing. Yes, going to court is time consuming, and most choose to pay the fine rather than spend a day in court. Consider it a bit of karma for all the times you broke the law by speeding or, whoops, man that light turns red quickly. How about all those little right turns on red where you just slow down a little, look, nothing coming and slip on around? We all break the traffic laws and sometimes you get caught and sometimes you don’t.

By the way, if you’re going to go the “Big Brother Watching” route, while you’re at it, can you get them to remove all those eye-in-the-sky, civil rights infringing, surveillance cameras in stores as well?

[demopublican]

I don't understand the argument that it is "just" a revenue seeking act. The cameras do not cause the speeding to occur . If there were no violations there'd be no revenue.

I also question how the 'right to face your accuser' comes into play with security cameras (at the mall, 7/11 etc.)

Well we now know that the cameras can and do ticket innocent drivers and have at least a five percent error rate.
IMHO they we designed to bring in money not to change behavior.

[demopublican]

Who wants to bet that the original poster on this thread was an employee of one of the speed camera contractors?

[prepfan]

Well we now know that the cameras can and do ticket innocent drivers and have at least a five percent error rate.
IMHO they we designed to bring in money not to change behavior.

IMHO, everyone knew there would be errors. Or were there some who thought we had actually produced a perfect process ? [My mama wanted me to always get 100; but she was satisfied with "only" straight "A's "]

Your "HO" is certainly shared by many.

IMHO, they were designed to bring in money AND to change behaviour. [pretty much the same basis for all enforcement fines]

[demopublican]

Controlling speed within critical work zones is important, that's all this is about. Who has a problem being told not to pass workmen at 70 mph?

The problem is that many tickets are passed out in off job hours. I suspect that some construction zones are being left in place for revenue generation.

[Daan]

Who wants to bet that the original poster on this thread was an employee of one of the speed camera contractors [or their lobbyist(s)]?

You would most likely win that wager.

The OP's last post [Feb 2009] is during the MD legislative session when the speed camera law was finally passed.

The speed camera companies started their efforts to buy MD politicians in 2006.

Speed Cameras Attract Lobbyists in Annapolis
Quote

According to Maryland state lobbying disclosures, the company which runs Montgomery County's speed camera program, Texas based ACS State and Local Solutions, currently retains a team of at least 8 lobbyists at one of the state's most successful lobbying firms, Alexander & Cleaver. The State Ethics Commission releases an annual report on companies spending over 50,000 on lobbying activities, and ACS has been on that list each year from 2006-2008. [By the date of this article, the 2009 data was likely not available]

In 2007, prior to the nearly successful statewide speed camera bill, they spent $144,346.74 on lobbying activities. ACS spent an additional $81,460.13 in 2008 through October 31, 2008 on this effort. ACS's lobbying activities during the 2008 general Assembly included $6286.13 on two banquets at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on January 29 and February 6, 2008 for members of the House Environmental Matters Senate Judicial Proceedings, House Appropriations, and Senate Budget and Taxation Committees.

End Quote

Then in 2009-
Traffic Camera Lobbyists Buy Victory in Maryland Legislature
Quote

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D) is expected to sign into law recently passed legislation authorizing a massive expansion in the use of speed cameras throughout the state. The measure is the culmination of a coordinated effort by photo enforcement companies, their lobbying firms and the insurance industry to sway the opinions of key legislators. TheNewspaper reviewed state records over the past ten years and found that parties with a direct financial interest in automated ticketing showered members of the Maryland General Assembly and the governor with $707,725 in gifts and campaign cash.


The official legislative analysis for Senate Bill 277 predicted $65,335,400 in new photo ticket revenue at the state level by 2014. The private contractor selected to run the program will pocket $9,783,700. Because a number of localities implementing their own programs expect equally generous levels of revenue, four traffic camera specialists had an incentive to make a long-term strategic investment in Maryland’s legislative process. American Traffic Solutions (ATS) of Arizona, Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) of Texas, Sigma Space/Optotraffic of Maryland and Traffipax of Germany together wrote checks to lawmakers worth $183,780 between 1999 and 2009.

End Quote


Note that the legislative analysis for the bill mentions "$65,335,400 in new photo ticket revenue at the state level". Did that revenue number include the $millions in new revenue at the local level? In any case, the new revenue at the locals level will easily exceed that estimate by 2014. I believe Baltimore City's first year was about $11 million and a subsequent year was reported to be $19 million.


The article title is appropriate since it's common knowledge that our politicians are for sale.

Golden Rule: "He who has the gold, makes the rules."

BTW, the OP hasn't posted since the law passed.


Does anyone still believe this was "for the children"?

.

[Daan]

IMHO, everyone knew there would be errors. Or were there some who thought we had actually produced a perfect process ? [My mama wanted me to always get 100; but she was satisfied with "only" straight "A's "]

Your "HO" is certainly shared by many.

IMHO, they were designed to bring in money AND to change behaviour. [pretty much the same basis for all enforcement fines]

IMHO, the small fine and no points is mostly an annoyance and will do little to change behavior. The revenue enhancement, however, is the real truth of the matter.

.

[Daan]

.

If this school zone speed camera law were really about the safety of children near schools then:

• For exceeding the posted speed limit by 12 mph within 500 feet of a school the fine should be $100.
• The fine should increase by at least $50 for each additional 5 mph over that 12 mph threshold.
• The speed cameras should enforce the speed limit only on the road segment 500 feet before AND 500 feet beyond the school.
• If the school has well traveled streets on more than just the front, the speed cameras could be placed on more than just the front street.
• The speed cameras should enforce the speed limit in BOTH directions, not just one.

These are just suggested minimums. To not do at least these is, IMHO, proof that this current implementation of the school zone speed camera law is designed simply to collect revenue.

The current penalty for school zone speeding (regardless of how fast) is $40 and no points, about the same as a Baltimore City parking ticket which I believe is $32 and no points for a parking violation.

These suggestions, I believe, would have the desired result of changing behavior and protecting school children.

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[Daan]

.

The news report on the legislative analysis focused on the expected revenue to be received by enacting this SCHOOL ZONE SPEED CAMERA law.

What were the expected reductions in the number of school children's injuries and loss of life resulting from the passing of this law?

It would be very interesting and educational to see the data on school children injuries and deaths resulting from speeding cars prior to the law and since in what the law considers to be a "School Zone".


But then according to SRB, if only one child's life is saved, all of these concerns over defects in the equipment and the law don't matter.

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[bmore_ken]

My opinion is that if the speed cameras are for those who speed "excessively" then go for it. It is dangerous, and I think they should be ticketed.

Perhaps police officers should be out there doing their jobs then