cameras at stop lights...is Big Brother watching you
05-19-2011, 07:53 AM
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 430
I dont mind them, My husband went to the store and got caught going through a red light, came back and got caught going the other way. Hasnt live this one down yet. But what if it had been an Amber alert or something like that. The picture of him was great both times. Idiot that he was. -- J.
05-19-2011, 12:11 PM
#74
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
We loaned our car to friend of ours a couple years ago, and were surprised several weeks later, when we received a ticket in the mail for speeding 15 mph over the limit. We were real glad for the picture, since it clearly showed our friend's face, not DH driving. We were able to have it dismissed and were not even asked who the driver was. We do not let that friend borrow our car anymore. :oops:
05-19-2011, 03:03 PM
#75
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay area
Posts: 223
As are others, I'm in CA.
The town I live in has them at several intersections.
The "spin" on the cameras was the lame argument that they punish people who run red lights and will "encourage" folks to refrain from sliding through on yellow-near-red. How's that "hope and change" working out in the real world? As with other things, not so much as the folks publishing the fairy tale would like us to believe.
The reality is, as pointed out on an earlier post, is that these cameras are used as street corner ATMs for the local government. And DON'T insult me by trying to convince me they're installed for safety reasons. They're installed and administered by a 3rd party which gets a "cut" of the revenue. Ya really think that company is truly concerned about safety? I sincerely doubt it. What I don't doubt is that the city has been sold a product on the basis that it will generate more revenue for the city.
Since all politicians of all stripes are convinced they're entitled to be world class money grubbers and to perpetually have their mits in my pocket, the city "fathers" jumped on that opportunity like a flea onto a dog!
In the town where I live, it was discovered that the time that the yellow light was on had been decreased ever-so-slightly so as to execute the "gotcha" camera. Obviously, once that got out (i.e. did not meet State of CA specs for yellow light time), the time for the yellow light was restored to state specifications.
Furthermore, many of the "photo tickets" have been challenged and tossed out. I wonder what the ROI is on a per capita basis to the local government in those cases.
I think this is all a slippery slope toward eliminating our right to FACE our accuser (i.e. a law enforcement officer). Last I heard, although the sound is becoming fainter and fainter, the legal standard is that in the US we're innocent until proven guilty. A picture taken by an ATM doesn't meet that standard.
If you REALLY want to get spun up about something, how about this? In our fair Bay Area town, the police will not respond the either a residential or commercial burglar alarm unless there is on-site verification by either the home/business owner or a private security company that the security of that place has been breached!
Play that scenario in your mind.
The pathetic specimen of law enforcement who is the police chief decided that was the only way to reduce the number of false alarms that were taking officers away from other, important work. He even was so bold as to separate responses to apartments from single family dwellings so as to "show" that the number of burglaries were down since the policy was implemented. In years previous, those stats were combined into one.
Well, yes, when you have a total of 5 but decide to separate 5 into 2, 2.5 is going to look like there has been a 50% reduction.
I've seen this character in the grocery store and even though I was never less than 10' from him, when I left the store, I felt as if I needed a shower.
Ah, the concept of honor among thieves is alive and well.
The town I live in has them at several intersections.
The "spin" on the cameras was the lame argument that they punish people who run red lights and will "encourage" folks to refrain from sliding through on yellow-near-red. How's that "hope and change" working out in the real world? As with other things, not so much as the folks publishing the fairy tale would like us to believe.
The reality is, as pointed out on an earlier post, is that these cameras are used as street corner ATMs for the local government. And DON'T insult me by trying to convince me they're installed for safety reasons. They're installed and administered by a 3rd party which gets a "cut" of the revenue. Ya really think that company is truly concerned about safety? I sincerely doubt it. What I don't doubt is that the city has been sold a product on the basis that it will generate more revenue for the city.
Since all politicians of all stripes are convinced they're entitled to be world class money grubbers and to perpetually have their mits in my pocket, the city "fathers" jumped on that opportunity like a flea onto a dog!
In the town where I live, it was discovered that the time that the yellow light was on had been decreased ever-so-slightly so as to execute the "gotcha" camera. Obviously, once that got out (i.e. did not meet State of CA specs for yellow light time), the time for the yellow light was restored to state specifications.
Furthermore, many of the "photo tickets" have been challenged and tossed out. I wonder what the ROI is on a per capita basis to the local government in those cases.
I think this is all a slippery slope toward eliminating our right to FACE our accuser (i.e. a law enforcement officer). Last I heard, although the sound is becoming fainter and fainter, the legal standard is that in the US we're innocent until proven guilty. A picture taken by an ATM doesn't meet that standard.
If you REALLY want to get spun up about something, how about this? In our fair Bay Area town, the police will not respond the either a residential or commercial burglar alarm unless there is on-site verification by either the home/business owner or a private security company that the security of that place has been breached!
Play that scenario in your mind.
The pathetic specimen of law enforcement who is the police chief decided that was the only way to reduce the number of false alarms that were taking officers away from other, important work. He even was so bold as to separate responses to apartments from single family dwellings so as to "show" that the number of burglaries were down since the policy was implemented. In years previous, those stats were combined into one.
Well, yes, when you have a total of 5 but decide to separate 5 into 2, 2.5 is going to look like there has been a 50% reduction.
I've seen this character in the grocery store and even though I was never less than 10' from him, when I left the store, I felt as if I needed a shower.
Ah, the concept of honor among thieves is alive and well.
05-20-2011, 10:51 AM
#77
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 911
If you can't afford the fine...don't commit the crime. I have been for the red lights in our city in Iowa since they were put in. I am sick and tired of people running red lights and endangering my life. When my traffic light is green, why do I have to wait while three or four cars run a red light? Is their time more important than mine? When I'm making a legal left turn on a green light and want to move over a lane, why do I have to watch out for the person who is running a red light to make a right turn into my lane?
The mini-editorial (on the front page of our local newspaper) and the editorial page have been full of comments beating this issue to death.
Now the cameras have moved from the intersections to the interstate that runs through the town, a road that is currently under a five-year construction plan. What gives anyone the right, when the speed limit is 55 in a construction zone, to go 70-75 and endangering the lives of construction workers and other motorists? The first day the cameras were in place,(enforcement signs posted on all speed limit signs) there were no tickets given. Hooray!! It works exactly as it should.
Regarding the issue of the ticket going to the owner of the car, rather than the driver...you're never going to borrow my car again if you can't obey the law.
The mini-editorial (on the front page of our local newspaper) and the editorial page have been full of comments beating this issue to death.
Now the cameras have moved from the intersections to the interstate that runs through the town, a road that is currently under a five-year construction plan. What gives anyone the right, when the speed limit is 55 in a construction zone, to go 70-75 and endangering the lives of construction workers and other motorists? The first day the cameras were in place,(enforcement signs posted on all speed limit signs) there were no tickets given. Hooray!! It works exactly as it should.
Regarding the issue of the ticket going to the owner of the car, rather than the driver...you're never going to borrow my car again if you can't obey the law.
05-20-2011, 02:20 PM
#78
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Once an Iowan, always an Iowan, but now suburban Chicagoland
Posts: 508
Originally Posted by ptquilts
we have one stoplight in the whole county. DOn't think there is a camera there.
Watch out...there will be!! The lure of $$$$$
05-21-2011, 04:09 PM
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 506
Originally Posted by Maralyn
If you can't afford the fine...don't commit the crime. I have been for the red lights in our city in Iowa since they were put in. I am sick and tired of people running red lights and endangering my life. When my traffic light is green, why do I have to wait while three or four cars run a red light? Is their time more important than mine? When I'm making a legal left turn on a green light and want to move over a lane, why do I have to watch out for the person who is running a red light to make a right turn into my lane?
The mini-editorial (on the front page of our local newspaper) and the editorial page have been full of comments beating this issue to death.
Now the cameras have moved from the intersections to the interstate that runs through the town, a road that is currently under a five-year construction plan. What gives anyone the right, when the speed limit is 55 in a construction zone, to go 70-75 and endangering the lives of construction workers and other motorists? The first day the cameras were in place,(enforcement signs posted on all speed limit signs) there were no tickets given. Hooray!! It works exactly as it should.
Regarding the issue of the ticket going to the owner of the car, rather than the driver...you're never going to borrow my car again if you can't obey the law.
The mini-editorial (on the front page of our local newspaper) and the editorial page have been full of comments beating this issue to death.
Now the cameras have moved from the intersections to the interstate that runs through the town, a road that is currently under a five-year construction plan. What gives anyone the right, when the speed limit is 55 in a construction zone, to go 70-75 and endangering the lives of construction workers and other motorists? The first day the cameras were in place,(enforcement signs posted on all speed limit signs) there were no tickets given. Hooray!! It works exactly as it should.
Regarding the issue of the ticket going to the owner of the car, rather than the driver...you're never going to borrow my car again if you can't obey the law.
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