Boycott Elmwood Place? (Perry: insurance, neighborhood, live)

[Bhaalspawn]

For those of you who live near Elmwood Place, have you avoided driving through the town and/or boycotted the city's businesses out of a fear of the speeding ticket cameras?

[rrtechno]

If you don't feel the speed laws pertain to you, chances are there are other laws that you feel you don't have to follow and perhaps the residents there would prefer you not come.

But really, if you are opposed to the speeding cameras, remember the businesses are not the ones who put them out there. If you boycott them, you are directing your opposition at the wrong people.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by rrtechno

If you don't feel the speed laws pertain to you, chances are there are other laws that you feel you don't have to follow and perhaps the residents there would prefer you not come.

But really, if you are opposed to the speeding cameras, remember the businesses are not the ones who put them out there. If you boycott them, you are directing your opposition at the wrong people.

The cameras have just this week been ruled illegal and the village has been ordered to cease collecting fines related to them. Much of the most vociferous opposition to the cameras has come from residents. I suspect from your sanctimonious tone you have not looked at the exact location of at least one of the cameras where it is next to impossible to suddenly slow to the posted 25 mph speed limit in time to avoid being ticketed. This should be an object lesson that not every regulation or law a governmental jurisdiction decides to enact is necessarily legal. In this case it was nothing but a blatant money grab.

[Ohiogirl81]

You could always not speed.

However, I agree that the cameras are nothing but a tricky attempt to raise money. Perhaps the cops should try selling popcorn or start up a Friday fish fry instead.

[WILWRadio]

Correct. It was a money making scheme which in reality all speed cameras and even red light cameras are. In any event it was a good ruling by the Judge on this case and now life can get back to normal in Elmwood Place. From what I've seen of that little town, it needs more people driving in and doing business with the local establishments, not less. And those traffic cameras were a great impediment to attracting people to the community.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

Correct. It was a money making scheme which in reality all speed cameras and even red light cameras are. In any event it was a good ruling by the Judge on this case and now life can get back to normal in Elmwood Place. From what I've seen of that little town, it needs more people driving in and doing business with the local establishments, not less. And those traffic cameras were a great impediment to attracting people to the community.

Even the ministers in Elmwood Place were complaining that the cameras were keeping people away from church.

Seriously, anyone with an opinion about the cameras should drive over and look at where the cameras and signage are placed. It's pretty amazing.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

Even the ministers in Elmwood Place were complaining that the cameras were keeping people away from church.

Seriously, anyone with an opinion about the cameras should drive over and look at where the cameras and signage are placed. It's pretty amazing.

I have a friend who sells insurance. He went to Elmwood Place to write a policy. A few days later he got two tickets in the mail, complete with pictures. One coming and one going.

[natininja]

Obviously, the way these cameras are programmed can be overzealous. That seems to have been the case in Elmwood Place. But they can also be effective in getting people to drive safer and legally. Police can't be everywhere, but that doesn't mean people should get away with breaking laws when they aren't around to enforce them. To say they are nothing more than a money-making scheme overlooks the very real impact of poor driver behavior on lives and communities.

Elmwood Place certainly needs more people coming through and patronizing businesses. Having people speeding through is unlikely to do that. Having people driving through at a reasonable speed, a speed at which they can notice the businesses along the road they might wish to patronize, is much more effective at drawing people in. It also creates a safer environment for business patrons, many of whom will have to cross the street as a pedestrian at some point in their visit to the neighborhood.

IMO, there are better ways (through road design) to get people to slow down, but there probably aren't better ways to get people to obey red lights. Good on the town for making a few shekels off people behaving dangerously and putting others' lives at risk. Though I definitely don't support overly strict programming of cameras.

[goyguy]

Elmwood's so shot to hell anyway, what's there to boycott?

[t45209]

Originally Posted by goyguy

Elmwood's so shot to hell anyway, what's there to boycott?

Dang, you beat me to it!