City Tax Camera Tickets 7 MPH SUV for going 45 MPH

[Daan]

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Here's a document issued by the State Highway Administration (SHA) titled:
Guidelines For Automated Speed Enforcement Systems In School Zones Revised January 2011

In the document's "Introduction" it states:

This document contains guidance for ASE systems in school zones, focusing on site identification and selection; requirements for materials, design, and installation; and, key program components. Local jurisdictions must adhere to these guidelines for ASE systems that provide enforcement on Maryland
State Highway Administration (SHA) highways. Requirements for applying to the SHA for approval of an ASE system that provides enforcement on a State highway are outlined in Section V and Attachment C. For additional information on establishing and signing a school zone along a State highway, refer to
SHA’s “Guidelines for Establishing and Signing School Zones along State Highways.”

All local jurisdictions are encouraged to adopt these guidelines for application on their own roads to improve the consistency and credibility of ASE programs statewide. Maryland law, which allows the use of ASE systems in designated school zones, contains additional standards and procedures regarding ASE systems.

Pages numbered 2 through 5 contain guidelines for the placement of the speed camera equipment and for determining valid "School Zones" within a "School Area".

Baltimore City blatantly disregards a number of these guidelines issued by the state that are intended "to improve the consistency and credibility of ASE programs statewide."

For example:

"Sites should not be established near traffic signals, stop signs, yield signs or freeway ramps."

I believe Baltimore City authorized all or nearly all of its existing red light cameras (traffic signals) to be modified to also operate as speed cameras.

"School zones do not automatically exist around schools nor are they created simply by the installation of School Advance or School Crosswalk Warning Signs."

The "school area" is the area within a 1/2 mile radius of the school. "However, not every road segment within a ½ mile radius of a school should be a school zone." Evidently, Baltimore City believes that a speed camera can be placed anywhere within a 1/2 mile radius of any school.

"Except in unusual circumstances and as justified by a traffic engineering study, a school zone adjacent to a school should not exceed 500 feet approaching or beyond the school or the school activity."

There is a school zone on Orleans Street designated for William Paca Elementary (Orleans & Lakewood). The speed camera for that school zone is for east bound traffic but it is located at the next traffic signal (Orleans & Linwood) that is about 800 feet beyond the school.

The Mayor was on the 10 o'clock news tonight and made a statement to the effect that the speed camera errors were acceptable if the speed cameras save the life of even one child ("it's for the children"). That speed camera on Orleans street for that school zone will not provide any protection for the lives of children at William Paca Elementary School.

The lying politicians won't admit that this is nothing other than a scam to collect revenue.

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[Daan]

Oh, but there's a fail safe. The tickets are examined by police officers. So the tickets are actually being issued by those officers and not the company. Then how did this person get this ticket? That ticket never should have been issued and yet it was. It's vecoming increasingly clear that this is a policing for profits scam. Another angle, if the program is successful and speeding is continuouslt reduced. At some point the program becomes unprofitable to operate. Would these companies continue to operate these programs at a loss simply for the sake of public safety and justice? So does the company's bottom line constitute an illegal quota on tickets? It seem like there was a lot that the legislature and local jurisdictions failed to considered in this rush to increased revenue. Now the programs continue on in what can only be called a reckless disregard for the truth. Who cares about truth and justice when you're making millions?

City issued speed camera ticket to motionless car

The Baltimore City speed camera ticket alleged that the four-door Mazda wagon was going 38 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone — and that owner Daniel Doty owed $40 for the infraction.

But the Mazda wasn't speeding.

It wasn't even moving.

It's been documented that the review process by a sworn police officer was, in the case of red light citations, performed by a deceased officer.

http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2011...-2000-red.html


Also, the volume of citations being generated by these speed cameras makes the claim that every one of them is reviewed before being issued at least suspect.

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[demopublican]

So that is basically fraud.

[demopublican]

Where are all of the speed camera defenders that were calling us selfish and crazy when we predicted widespread problems?

[Wizard777]

It's been documented that the review process by a sworn police officer was, in the case of red light citations, performed by a deceased officer.

http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2011...-2000-red.html


Also, the volume of citations being generated by these speed cameras makes the claim that every one of them is reviewed before being issued at least suspect.

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So there is forgery and perjury involved. This is sounding more like a continuing criminal enterprise. How many people that know they are innocent will pay the ticket instead of losing time at work to fight it? Caching! More revenue, profits and ill gotten gains! But if the speed camera program gave fines and points. Innocent people might take the time to fight those tickets. So they don't assess points to reduce the likelihood of people challenging mistakes or just flat out buying the right to go speeding down that road.

[Daan]

So there is forgery and perjury involved. This is sounding more like a continuing criminal enterprise. How many people that know they are innocent will pay the ticket instead of losing time at work to fight it? Caching! More revenue, profits and ill gotten gains! But if the speed camera program gave fines and points. Innocent people might take the time to fight those tickets. So they don't assess points to reduce the likelihood of people challenging mistakes or just flat out buying the right to go speeding down that road.

Someone on one of the radio talk shows mentioned these speed camera citations might be a violation of "equal protection".

The argument was that a person going 80 miles per hour and stopped by a police officer would likely be fined in the hundreds of dollars and given several points where a person going 80 miles per hour past a speed camera would only receive a $40 dollar fine and no points.

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[demopublican]

Change the fine to $1000. But if driver wins in court he or she gets $1000.

[yuca]

Someone on one of the radio talk shows mentioned these speed camera citations might be a violation of "equal protection".

The argument was that a person going 80 miles per hour and stopped by a police officer would likely be fined in the hundreds of dollars and given several points where a person going 80 miles per hour past a speed camera would only receive a $40 dollar fine and no points.

The fines are intentionally kept low to provide disincentive for people to go to court in order to fight bogus tickets.

Higher fines will only make the problem worse, IMHO. Many times, people get ticketed and have no idea until weeks later when the notice arrives. That's one of the biggest issues I have with the cameras. That, plus the abuse of the law in terms of where they are being placed, and the numerous accuracy problems.

[Daan]

The fines are intentionally kept low to provide disincentive for people to go to court in order to fight bogus tickets.

Higher fines will only make the problem worse, IMHO. Many times, people get ticketed and have no idea until weeks later when the notice arrives. That's one of the biggest issues I have with the cameras. That, plus the abuse of the law in terms of where they are being placed, and the numerous accuracy problems.

Exactly.

And I get really annoyed with the politicians justifying these revenue enhancements (scams) as being "for the children".

I've seen many of these speed cameras in Baltimore City installed, not only in disregard for SHA guidelines, but also installed where they can't possibly catch speeding cars that endanger school children.

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[Wizard777]

Someone on one of the radio talk shows mentioned these speed camera citations might be a violation of "equal protection".

The argument was that a person going 80 miles per hour and stopped by a police officer would likely be fined in the hundreds of dollars and given several points where a person going 80 miles per hour past a speed camera would only receive a $40 dollar fine and no points.

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Yet another excellent point. I agree that this does violate equal protection. It essentially creates two different penalties for the same offense depending upon who issues you the ticket. If you get the ticket from the police them you can points and even increased insurance rates. But if you get the ticket from the legislatures corporate sponsors and the states business partners. Then you don't have to worry about the points or insurance rate increases. These lesser penalties are somehow supposed to provide greater protection to school children and highway workers. Once again it is glaringly obvious this program has absolutely nothing to do with public safety.

Even if they claim that the legislature has a right to create special zones with seperate penalties. Considering that these special zones are school zones and road work zones the penalties should be enhanced not lessened. It's bad enough that you don't have police physically stopping the speeders. But also don't have points to proceedurally stop speeders with frequent violations by license suspension or revocation. If give points with the tickets there be greater public resistance and outcry. Especially if you are getting tickets, points and higher insurance rates for obeying the speed limit or standing still at red light.

[Wizard777]

Change the fine to $1000. But if driver wins in court he or she gets $1000.

If the state is essentially willing to sell you right to speed through a school or construction zone for 40.00 - 75.00 and no real consequences. They'll probably be willing to essentially sell you right to run over a kid or road worker for 1,000.00 with no real consequenses. You just have to make some contributions to the right politicians and PAC's. The next thing you know you're in the hit and run business. Then they can install catapult sidewalks that will throw the children in front of the speeding cars. Caching!

I think we need to amend the first Amendment to not only provide for the seperation of church and state but also the seperation or corporation and state. The corrupting influences they have each other are just far too great for We The People to be anything other than victims.

[Daan]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...tory?track=rss

Should these tax-bots be considered organized crime and investigated by the FBI?

RICO ??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rackete...anizations_Act


Have these two RICO Predicate offenses been committed?

Fraud - citations that are bogus and money is collected for them
Extortion - the victim must pay the money or their right to renew their vehicle registration is taken away

Maybe the Feds should take a look at this.

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[Wizard777]

This is just another way of saying the speed camera program is an unmitigated disaster.

'Perfect storm' of errors caused speeding ticket to stopped car, police say

A "perfect storm of errors" caused the city of Baltimore to issue a speed camera citation to a stationary vehicle, the Police Department's chief spokesman said Thursday.

Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi acknowledged that Officer Christopher Izquierdo should not have validated the citation, which alleged that a Mazda wagon was going 38 mph even though a video clip from the camera and two time-stamped photos given as evidence clearly show the car stopped at a red light.

State law requires every citation to be approved by a sworn law enforcement officer, and in the city that is the final step before a ticket is mailed out to the vehicle's owner. But Guglielmi said this case indicates multiple breakdowns in the process, beginning with the radar-equipped camera and continuing through a subsequent review by the city's speed camera contractor, Xerox State and Local Solutions.

[Daan]

This is just another way of saying the speed camera program is an unmitigated disaster.

'Perfect storm' of errors caused speeding ticket to stopped car, police say

A "perfect storm of errors" caused the city of Baltimore to issue a speed camera citation to a stationary vehicle, the Police Department's chief spokesman said Thursday.

Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi acknowledged that Officer Christopher Izquierdo should not have validated the citation, which alleged that a Mazda wagon was going 38 mph even though a video clip from the camera and two time-stamped photos given as evidence clearly show the car stopped at a red light.

State law requires every citation to be approved by a sworn law enforcement officer, and in the city that is the final step before a ticket is mailed out to the vehicle's owner. But Guglielmi said this case indicates multiple breakdowns in the process, beginning with the radar-equipped camera and continuing through a subsequent review by the city's speed camera contractor, Xerox State and Local Solutions.

Barnes and Guglielmi are professional BS spewers. The "system" is defective and fraudulent.

Wow, just by coincidence, the Mazda's citation reads exactly 1 mph (38mph) over the threshold for being cited.

Quotes from the article

The Sun also showed that drivers cannot verify the alleged speeds with the information printed on tickets from Baltimore County, Howard County and the State Highway Administration. [not acceptable!]

The Police Department has previously said a single officer can be called on to review up to 1,200 citations per day, leaving little time to scrutinize each one. [I believe that's BS talk for "rubber stamping"]

"It's no secret the volume of citations that have to be reviewed as authentic is a lot," Guglielmi said. "You rely almost exclusively on the equipment, the validity of the equipment. That's all you have. You have the photographs, the time stamps. You authenticate based on the equipment.

End Quote


The government knows that most of the public are just sheeple who will stand for this kind of screwing.

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[yuca]

This is just another way of saying the speed camera program is an unmitigated disaster.

'Perfect storm' of errors caused speeding ticket to stopped car, police say

"Perfect storm"? I'd be laughing at such a ridiculous comment, if it weren't so pathetic and sad.

[KSweeley]

Xerox State & Local Solutions just admitted to a city task force set up to investigate the speed cameras that "several of Baltimore's cameras has an error rate of greater than 5 percent."

Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,6722337.story

No word in the article if the city and Xerox will repair the malfunctioning speed cameras and the article does not state exactly where these malfunctioning speed cameras are located.

[Daan]

Xerox State & Local Solutions just admitted to a city task force set up to investigate the speed cameras that "several of Baltimore's cameras has an error rate of greater than 5 percent."

Link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...,6722337.story

No word in the article if the city and Xerox will repair the malfunctioning speed cameras and the article does not state exactly where these malfunctioning speed cameras are located.

Anyone doubting that they rightfully received one of these citations should, if the effort won't cost them more than $40, go before a judge and show the judge the speed camera company's admission that "several of Baltimore's cameras has an error rate of greater than 5 percent."

In addition, the fact that the speed camera company could not reproduce the demonstrated error made by one of its speed cameras should cast doubt on all of them.

That should give an honest judge reasonable doubt necessary to void the citation.

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[Ravens2006]

The fact that the cameras are right "way more often" than not is of little consequence to me. If they don't time-stamp the photographs with sub 16-millisecond precision, and they don't provide two time-stamped images clearly showing the vehicle at Point A in shot one, and Point B in shot two, then there's literally NO WAY to verify that the speed reading is accurate.

Using actual time-stamped imagery taken at a 60 Hz frame-rate would give you a much more reliable result, and more concrete evidence, than the radar sensors will. Heck, I once had a radar gun tell me I was throwing 99 mph. If only that were true...

The only potential point of failure would be the internal clock of the system, which if it syncs with GPS time as a source, would remove virtually any and all chance for error. The math is quite simple... if you travel 45 feet in half a second, you're going about 61 mph. 22.5 feet in a quarter of a second, you're going about 61 mph. It's quite easy to "calibrate" the images to the ground distances they cover, and even overlay that information on the picture. That way a human auditor could verify the reading in a few seconds, without even having to do much hard math...

Point is, there's absolutely NO REASON for the system they have in place to be as flawed as it is...

[Ravens2006]

Anyone doubting that they rightfully received one of these citations should, if the effort won't cost them more than $40, go before a judge and show the judge the speed camera company's admission that "several of Baltimore's cameras has an error rate of greater than 5 percent."

In addition, the fact that the speed camera company could not reproduce the demonstrated error made by one of its speed cameras should cast doubt on all of them.

That should give an honest judge reasonable doubt necessary to void the citation.

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Reasonable doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt...

[Wizard777]

Residents who paid tickets want full audit of speed cameras

Matthias Manz isn't sure what to do. The Original Northwood resident's family received four speed camera tickets in the past three years and coughed up the $40 fine each time, trusting that the government wouldn't issue bogus citations. Now, with the revelation that some cameras have issued more than 5 percent of their tickets in error, Manz is wishing he hadn't been so quick to pay.

"I should have challenged these tickets," said Manz, 58, a retired federal worker. "I paid them only because I didn't know what to do."

It's a quandary that affects drivers throughout the city and the surrounding area. Baltimore officials have acknowledged issuing at least 350 tickets in error, while the cameras' professed error rates suggest that many more have not been identified.