Interesting info on Kingsport's red light cameras

[treyver]

Originally Posted by donsabi

According to News 5 the traffic cams in Kingsport have generated about $700,000 in revenue with about $500,000 of that money going to the Australian based Redflex. Kingsport claims they didn't pay a dime for the cams and that "T-bone" accidents have been reduced justifying the cams presence.

The truth is that yes "T-bone" accidents have decreased but rear end accidents have had a huge increase. On a good day, or bad day, you can take a beach chair to these intersections and watch live action rear end accidents.

The truth is that when the people learn where the cameras are they slow down for that intersection and speed up for the intersections without cams. On Stone Drive in Kingsport the police have clocked some motorcycles traveling in excess of 150mph traffic cam or not. They can't catch those violators and they don't even try. Kingsport choose to install these traffic cams during severe economic times placing further hardships on people who have already endured too much. I believe the fine is $100 with about $20 going to Kingsport and $80 going to Australia. Way to go Kingsport!

Some Tennessee legislators don't quite see these traffic cams the same way local governments do and are trying to ban these traffic cams. Thank God for someone with some sense.

First, I will disagree with your statement when Kingsport chose to install these traffic cams - I actually saw them being constructed during the Bristol Race weekend of 2007. I don't remember severe economic times in 2007.

However, I agree that with the $100 fine and the Tennessee legislators attempting to do something. I personally want to see some kind of uniformity with the fines and yellow-light signal length (like Georgia), IF these traffic cams become an everyday occurrence like the police radar, and revenue isn't the primary goal, and safety is the primary goal.

In Knoxville, the fine is $50. And, the fine is higher in Bluff City or Mount Carmel.

[donsabi]

I believe that 2007 was the start of the downturn in real estate. However, I should have said that Kingsport choses to operate these traffic cams during difficult economic times thereby placing an undue burden on it's residents. IMO, Kingsport has sacrificed their residents/taxpayers for a nickel dime income opportunity.

[rccrain]

Donsabi, I'd give that 500,000 reps if possible. Our local economy sure could use that money flowing to local businesses. If local money was not being siphoned off to Australia, maybe businesses like Kingsport Grocery wouldn't have to go into "hibernation".

[jabogitlu]

I guess that's fair, but if everyone else is like me, there's no money for restaurants, red lights or no red lights. If the electric bills keep coming as high as they have been (and aren't we getting a rate hike?) then the next to go will be the internet... :/ Public library, here I come! LOL