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by jpbikerfreak from Overland Park, KS

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Red light cameras - law enforcement or profit center?

Apr 14, 2008 | 6:10 PM
Category: News

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Red light cameras - law enforcement or profit center?

It seems the mainstream media has finally caught on to what many of us have known for some time: the cameras going up at intersections everywhere in the U.S. are more about PROFIT and less about SAFETY.

Although a longer yellow light means a safer intersection, several cities have been caught actually shortening the time of the yellow light after installing cameras in a blatant effort to increase revenue.

Cha CHING....

21 Comments | Add a Comment

Apr 14, 2008 | 9:06 PM

A few isolated incidents doesn't speak for the whole program.

jdembski

Apr 15, 2008 | 9:26 AM

That wouldn't surprise me. The lights on Main street in KC between 13th and 6th streets need adjusted for better flow of traffic. Right now it is like that scene of Meet The Parents where you gun it at the light and then slam on the brakes at the next one. I think there are now cameras along there as well. Prior to the new cameras or the proposed new cameras along that area, the traffic actually flowed better. Does make you wonder.

jpbikerfreak

Apr 15, 2008 | 10:06 AM

I bet we're gonna find it's more than a few isolated incidents, JigSaw.

I still maintain profit is the motive here, not safety.

DogJ

Apr 15, 2008 | 11:02 AM

I'm not so sure that a government entity trying to act like a corporation (make a profit) is all that bad. Especially for people running red lights.

Now, if the government is intentionally shortening the yellow lights to increase revenue, then they may be acting more like Enron than IMB.

There are national standards for the duration of yellow lights. These are based on the speed limit and size of the intersection. These standards are similar to a roadway traffic volume and the number of lanes; they are standards, not regulations.

mpvan

Apr 15, 2008 | 11:10 AM

Sure it's about profit. So are speeding tickets. Radar gun for speeding tickets, camera for running the red light. Both are nearly indefensible in a court. Probably more so with the camera. Less whining by the defendant when he's running the red light and caught on camera......pay up.

With all the damage the uninsured and red light runners do, why not charge 'em out the ying yang.

It's just like anything else, obey the law. Don't run a light and it won't affect you. Don't drink and drive and it won't affect you either.

Jails are full, hit 'em in the pocketbook.

On the other hand, with the human mind and its ability to justify anything, there has to be the bunch that thinks they have the right to run the red light and not get caught.

jpbikerfreak

Apr 15, 2008 | 11:32 AM

mpvan - did you read the whole story? They intentionally shortened the yellow light, making the intersection MORE DANGEROUS but more likely to generate revenue.

LindaLouH

Apr 15, 2008 | 12:22 PM

Here's the deal...if you are not running yellow lights you have nothing to worry about. If you are not driving too fast, or following too close, you have time to stop. You get a ticket, whose fault is it?
Even if they are shortening the yellow light...unless you are ALREADY IN that intersection you should be stopping, not hitting the gas. If you are ALREADY in that intersection seems it cant be so quick that you won't be out before it changes to green for the other folk.

woodburner

Apr 15, 2008 | 12:41 PM

Send them a picture of the money for the ticket,do you think they would appreciate the irony?

jpbikerfreak

Apr 15, 2008 | 1:17 PM

woodburner, Someone did that I heard. They sent him back a picture of handcuffs.

You can't beat them at their own game. You have to take them to court and have the system smack them down (as happened in this story when the judge ordered a town to pay back all it received in fines).

jpbikerfreak

Apr 15, 2008 | 1:18 PM

LindaLou- all throughout history people have made the mistake of saying, "if you aren't doing anything wrong..."

That's music to a tyrant's ears.

lmatt

Apr 15, 2008 | 2:19 PM

Yellow lights DONT mean stop! They are used to clear the intersection. If they have shortened the time, this will not be safe for large trucks who need ALL the time that was allowed to stop. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!! "1984" was correct.

Marinernkc

Apr 15, 2008 | 2:50 PM

Imatt You are right yellow doesnt mean stop, but it also doesnt speed up cause the light is turning red.I see this every morning on the way to work, that is why I count to 5 before I ever enter a intersection.

JewwellsP

Apr 15, 2008 | 3:10 PM

LindaLou I take it you haven't driven a large truck hauling a large trailer?

Count to 5 before entering a intersection? Why would you do that? I have driven well over a million miles, I don't know that I have ever even heard of anyone doing that before.

BasehorLady

Apr 15, 2008 | 11:00 PM

I love it when I see people flooring the gas when they see a yellow light... I also love it when I'm approaching an intersection and the light is yellow, so I slow down and stop when the light is changed to red... I love the irate looks on the people behind me!!! DEAL WITH IT BABY!!!

Marinernkc

Apr 16, 2008 | 10:37 AM

Jewwells; Maybe I didnt say clear enough, what I met was if I am setting at a Red Light and it turns green I count to 5 before I enter the intersection, because of the yellow light racers. I have seen drivers even speed up and runn the red light.

Busybee

Apr 16, 2008 | 12:37 PM

And the game goes on . . . racing through a yellow light is like trying to beat the train -
day that train will getcha; or you will cause one hideous accident that will involve and innocent driver (with perhaps a baby/children in the car). Want that on your conscience??Something to think about. what will it cost you to drive defensively and let the lights guide you safely through the intersections? A couple more minutes to where you are going? Everyone is in such a hurry. Maybe it's time to slow down?

Copman

Apr 16, 2008 | 1:23 PM

Run the red light and I will help you remember for next time.

Smile your on camera
-Copman

jpbikerfreak

Apr 16, 2008 | 1:29 PM

Once we get cameras in everyonese houses, cars, and places of employement you might be out of a job copman.

mzjazz37

Apr 16, 2008 | 1:32 PM

I am a person who drives very conscientiously, nevertheless, one did turn yellow on me just as I entered the intersection, too close to give time to stop safely, so I proceeded though the intersection. My speed at the time this happened was 35-30 mph, so I was not speeding.

WELL this police officer decided to give me a ticket for running a red light. When I very politely explained that the light was yellow as I entered the intersection, she then got angry and said she was not going to argue about it and I deserved what i got.

There was no other reason for this ticket other than revenue for the city. I did nothing wrong at all, and the police officer flat out lied in order to give me the ticket.

It's bad enough we have to worry about the bad behavior of our police officers without a camera recording us at every corner. I agree it makes intersections MORE dangerous to tamper with them for the sake of more revenue.

Are we supposed to drive with prudent caution? Or maybe we should just all stop at EVERY traffic signal so it won't turn yellow on us ....

Yes I am sure that being worried about a ticket at every turn and traffic light is going to improve things.

kayb

Apr 16, 2008 | 3:27 PM

kayb
I honest to GOD do not go through red lights, you wanna know why???? because if you don't get killed but kill someone else, your a cooked goose also. Did you ever hear about jail time??? people don't be stupid, your not in that big a hurry. No.1 you don't want to be responsible for someone elses death, and you sure to GOD don't want to spend the rest of your life in jail. HELP-GROW A BRAIN. Leave early, get there safe, enjoy tomorrow.

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jpbikerfreak

I love to discuss political philosophy. The problem I have is that liberals often assume I'm conservative and convserervatives often assume I'm liberal. It's because I'm neither. I'm libertarian, which means I believe in both social and economic freedom. I don't do personal attacks. I won't respond to yours, and I won't initiate one against you. So save yourself some time if you're thinking of flaming me!

Member Since: 2/20/2008

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