Don't like how much money Baltimore is making off Speed Camers, do something about it

[uche]

The most effective way would be to assess points and greatly increase the amount of the tickets, but it's unlikely that they will assess points.

As for whether or not it's a money grab as some claim ~ So what if it is?

If people aren't going to slow down so that they don't go at least more than 12 miles over the posted limit, then they either don't care or are deliberately showing disregard for the safety of others.

If people have to speed as a way of life, they should either go to the race track and get it out of their system, leave earlier for wherever they're going in such a hurry, or give up their driving privileges because they no longer deserve them.

And as I've pointed out before, it's almost always the ersatz law and order types who complain about those who break the law except for those with which they disagree.

If anything, Maryland is far too lenient with reckless, aggressive, drunk, and other dangerous operators of vehicles. How many times does it take before such drivers kill someone? Habitual offenders should lose their licenses and in some cases serve prison time.

I see that thinking is something of the past for some people. single subject, simple mindedness appears to be sprreading on this board. The issue of whether or not one should speed is not in question. I object to the fradulet use of speed camers in areas where a speed of, say 45 mph, on a straight away, with no schools or houses and the intersection is approximately half mile away is in no way dangerous. If one cannot distinguish between a fraudelent use of a speed camers and a legitimate use of a speed camers one should not attempt to comment on such a relatively complex issue (two elements versus one). And once again, those posters who would blindly, mindlessly and without question submit to any action taken by the state, especially in the name of safety are members of that special group of people who throughout history have enabled the rise of despotism. Oh, "it could never happen hear..." Remember the defense authorization act of 2012 anyone? A federal court has recently suspended the section that would allow the us military to detaine us citizens, on us soil, indefinetely.

[genghiskhanraven]

Well Well Well
Turns out the private company had cameras ticketing people who were NOT speeding and they did nothing to fix them and they let the cameras rake in the $$$$$$ for them.
The city also ignored the known issues and let the contractor place cameras in areas away from schools and they both were laughing all the way to the bank.
Well who the f wouldn't have seen that one coming, ohhh i know who, poster number 1 on this thread and the rest of the idiot "just slow down" crowd that blindly trusted the city government and this private contractor to be fair and honest.

So I wonder where all the MORONS who posted that if you dont like speed cameras "just slow down" have now gone?

[dogstarman]

I think that, in general, speed cameras should err on the side of not tagging people who are at/below the actual speed limit. I am sure that it happens from time to time, and I am sure there are plenty folks who are eager and ready to lawyer-up stick-it to the state and lockheed-martin for any mistakes.

That said, these things are only going to get more popular. Having driven in Italy earlier this month, there are speed cameras all over the place. The idea that European highways are a no-limit speeder paradise is quickly becoming a thing of the past. The same kind of thing is happening here.

The bitter complaints of people who feel entitled to lead-foot when they feel like it is judicious serve only as a stronger incentive to roll these systems out in far greater numbers.

[demopublican]

Of course the pro big brother people defend the flawed money grab.

If you want to slow down the public it is simple. Program the cars to max out at 68 MPH.

And use real police for traffic stops. If the public does not get it: jack up the fines to $800 or $1500 for speeding in a school zone.

[Daan]

The speed camera companies get paid for each citation paid. That's an obvious incentive to generate more citations.


The Maryland law specifically states :
http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/web_statutes.asp?gtr&21-809
"(2) If a contractor operates a speed monitoring system on behalf of a local jurisdiction, the contractor’s fee may not be contingent on the number of citations issued or paid."

Speed cameras are a scam to generate revenue. The local jurisdictions love them and so do the speed camera companies who lobbied Annapolis lawmakers heavily to get the law passed.


BTW, Baltimore City simply disregards the SHA guidelines for locating speed cameras.

.

[Struds]

Well Well Well
Turns out the private company had cameras ticketing people who were NOT speeding and they did nothing to fix them and they let the cameras rake in the $$$$$$ for them.
The city also ignored the known issues and let the contractor place cameras in areas away from schools and they both were laughing all the way to the bank.
Well who the f wouldn't have seen that one coming, ohhh i know who, poster number 1 on this thread and the rest of the idiot "just slow down" crowd that blindly trusted the city government and this private contractor to be fair and honest.

So I wonder where all the MORONS who posted that if you dont like speed cameras "just slow down" have now gone?

For the most part, this is still true.

However, I think there's a fairly easy solution to the defective readings/cameras. Everytime they are proved wrong, the contractor must pay court and any other costs associated with the incorrectly issued citation. There's their incentive to make the system right.

[genghiskhanraven]

Read the post above yours, slowing down means NOTHiNG when it's all a scam,
the cameras are a scam, they DON'T make the roads any safer and the city and private contractor only want the money and they put them in areas where they could make the most money.
Cameras that weren't producing enough revenue were rigged by the private contractor to give out tickets to people who were NOT speeding. People were slowing down and still getting jacked up because of the greed of the private contractor and city (unless you were ticketed in a city vehicle, they threw those tickets out)
As others have pointed out, citizens shouldnt allow a program that is so susceptible to fraud to exist, especially if the Baltimore city government is in charge of it. Get rid of the cameras and have the police give out tickets if they really have concerns over the safety of school children (which they really don't since no freaking kids are getting hit by cars in front of schools)

[yuca]

My wife and I each got one when they first started and none since.
My driving habits in known speed camera areas have been adjusted.
It is simply a tax on the dumb.

Personally I would like to see the. Camera system expanded to include every public space and used to enforce every law and regulation.
The cameras should be open to the public and allow all of us to rat each other out for any infraction. Sounds like nirvana to me.

Read the post above yours, slowing down means NOTHiNG when it's all a scam,
the cameras are a scam, they DON'T make the roads any safer and the city and private contractor only want the money and they put them in areas where they could make the most money.
Cameras that weren't producing enough revenue were rigged by the private contractor to give out tickets to people who were NOT speeding. People were slowing down and still getting jacked up because of the greed of the private contractor and city (unless you were ticketed in a city vehicle, they threw those tickets out)
As others have pointed out, citizens shouldnt allow a program that is so susceptible to fraud to exist, especially if the Baltimore city government is in charge of it. Get rid of the cameras and have the police give out tickets if they really have concerns over the safety of school children (which they really don't since no freaking kids are getting hit by cars in front of schools)

I'm not surprised to hear this latest "news" out of Baltimore City. Some of these problems were pointed out many months ago.

It IS all about generating revenue. Nothing else. I'll say it again: if the school zone cameras were all about protecting children, they'd put them in front of the schools instead of putting them on a busy street a mile from the school.

If it were all about safety, an analysis of each school zone would have been made and the road with the most children crossing would have gotten the speed camera. Instead, we got what we have now.

The sad thing is that there are people who are STUPID enough to believe that this is about safety.

[Daan]

I'm not surprised to hear this latest "news" out of Baltimore City. Some of these problems were pointed out many months ago.

It IS all about generating revenue. Nothing else. I'll say it again: if the school zone cameras were all about protecting children, they'd put them in front of the schools instead of putting them on a busy street a mile from the school.

For example: On Orleans Street in the City a "School Zone" has been designated for, I believe the school is Paca Elementary. The speed camera is located in a modified red light camera (at Linwood Ave) in the east bound lane only and it's about 800 feet (almost 3 football fields) after you pass the cross walk in front of the school. This is not about those children's safety.

If it were all about safety, an analysis of each school zone would have been made and the road with the most children crossing would have gotten the speed camera. Instead, we got what we have now.

Exactly. The City has conflated "School Area" with "School Zone". A "School Area" is the area within a half mile radius on the school. A "School Zone" speed camera can to be located within that "School Area" where it has been determined there is a definite traffic hazard for school children. The City, however, claims it can put a speed camera anywhere within a half mile of any school. That, I believe, covers practically the entire City.

The sad thing is that there are people who are STUPID enough to believe that this is about safety.

The fine is $40 which makes it impractical to go to court to fight the citation because for most people the lost time from work would cost them more than the $40 fine.

BELIEVE! It's about revenue, not safety.

.

[workerbee]

I received one on 10/16. Traveling 62 in a 55 zone on I95 above Cambel blvd. A work zone where no one was working. Paid it but will challenge anything new in the future. I'd like to see the company that takes a challenge to court pay the motorist for his time if the motorist was to win in court. Reading the Sun articles some of these cameras are not accurate.

[mythoughts]

I received one on 10/16. Traveling 62 in a 55 zone on I95 above Cambel blvd. A work zone where no one was working. Paid it but will challenge anything new in the future. I'd like to see the company that takes a challenge to court pay the motorist for his time if the motorist was to win in court. Reading the Sun articles some of these cameras are not accurate.

You wouldn't gotten a ticket for going 62 in a 55 zone

[BlandFood]

If one gets caught is it points plus fine or just fine?

[demopublican]

If one gets caught is it points plus fine or just fine?

The tax cameras just do fines.

[demopublican]

How in the world is anybody this stupid?

Speed cameras have tagged Benjamin Parker's pickup truck 41 times in the Baltimore area over the past three years, records show — enough to have his license suspended 10 times over if those citations had been handed out by a police officer and not a machine.

Parker, a retiree who lives in Woodlawn, professed bewilderment that so many of the $40 citations have piled up, many from a stretch of Gwynns Falls Parkway in the city with a 25 mph speed limit. "I have no idea," he said when asked to explain it. "I don't even know anything about half those tickets."

Parker is one of 585 area motorists whose vehicles have amassed at least 30 tickets courtesy of the region's speed-detecting cameras since they were authorized in Maryland in 2009, according to a Baltimore Sun analysis

.


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,5655113.story

[russ498]

Escort 9500 Radar detect with built in GPS locator for speed and red-light cameras. I paid one $40 ticket, but will never pay another.

[demopublican]

Yep. Speed cameras tax the stupid and lazy. 0bama and O'Malley's 47%ers.

[soultrain]

Robo-ticketing is simply another tax. Frequently, I can avoid it by slowing down for the camera. Occasionally I travel through DC where the locations are less clearly marked and I get popped. Just one of many taxes I pay.

Very soon, I will move to AZ where robo-taxes don't exist

[demopublican]

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/...gov-jan-brewer

The Arizona Republic reports that eight cities and towns have quietly made agreements with the state allowing them to place speed or red-light cameras on roadways within their boundaries. The camera sites range from major expressways in metro areas to state routes cutting through rural towns.
And at least two more communities may add cameras.


Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/...#ixzz2CyG1u8ep

[soultrain]

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/...gov-jan-brewer

The Arizona Republic reports that eight cities and towns have quietly made agreements with the state allowing them to place speed or red-light cameras on roadways within their boundaries. The camera sites range from major expressways in metro areas to state routes cutting through rural towns.
And at least two more communities may add cameras.


Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/...#ixzz2CyG1u8ep

Well you're just full of good news!

[KSweeley]

To me, it sounds like Baltimore City drivers are involved in a legalized racketeering scheme between Baltimore City and the management company for the speed cameras.

Look at this Baltimore Sun article: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...980,full.story

Baltimore City, which has had red-light cameras since 1999, jumped into the program quickly and aggressively. According to Xerox State and Local Solutions Inc., which manages speed cameras for the city and other governments in Maryland and around the country, Baltimore has the largest combined speed and red-light camera program in North America.

The city has collected more than $38.6 million in speed camera fines. Roughly $10.4 million was paid in fees to Xerox, which gets up to $19.20 for each ticket the system issues. The company, which also manages the other camera programs in the Baltimore area, is slated to lose its contract with the city in January, after officials concluded that another company, Hanover-based Brekford Corp., would generate more money for the city.

Now if that doesn't sound like a legalized racketeering scheme with Baltimore City drivers being hit by the scheme, I don't know what is one then...