HELP!!!! Need info re: fighting a Photo Radar Speeding Ticket (lease, traffic)

[joninaz]

I actually think the shadiest part of the whole debate is the huge "fees" gathered by the private companies who are given the camera contracts.

They get the vast majority of income from each fine. I'd like to think that if my city is nabbing people in an unsporting manner, at least we're making a bundle that goes back into other programs. But instead they claim to be barely making budget.

We're talking millions of dollars, which can completely influence a local political campaign. Notice how Scottsdale had to fight the state in order to put in the 101 Cameras, and now the Gov. has become a sudden lover of the concept and wants to expand it state-wide?

She's seeing dollar signs from someone.

[Climacus]

Personally I have a huge problem with having machines spying on the public to enrich the government.

-If a Police Officer uses a Photo Radar gun and a Motorcycle, which are both machines, would you still have a problem with it? What if you have photo radar, but a human is sitting in the van at the time the photo is taken? Why would a human (who can lie) be less objectionable than a machine (which can be tested for errors)?

-If proceeds from photo radar were used to enrich a company or an individual, rather than the government, would you have less of a problem with it?

-In what way does a photographic camera which only takes photographs of violators constitute "spying" in a way that an traffic cop sitting on a corner watching traffic continuously (including non-violators) doesn't? If I'm driving within 10 miles of the speed limit and not running red lights, and I pass by a photo radar camera, no one even knows I was on the road. But if I'm driving safely, and I pass a traffic cop, the government does know I was on the road (and he can run a scan on my license plate, pull me over because he's in a bad mood, and so on).

-Would you really be happier if every photo radar camera were replaced by an armed traffic cop who pulled you over when you ran a red light or went over the speed limit, and spent half an hour looking up your information and lecturing you before writing you a ticket, while passersby gawked possibly asking you to get out of the car if you looked suspicious? Would you feel more 'free' in that kind of society?

In other words, I don't see how opposing photo radar is in any way a libertarian or 'constitutionalist' stance to take. Photo radar is a great alternative to dealing with police officers (who have bigger problems to deal with).

[markas214]

Originally Posted by Climacus

Personally I have a huge problem with having machines spying on the public to enrich the government.

-If a Police Officer uses a Photo Radar gun and a Motorcycle, which are both machines, would you still have a problem with it? What if you have photo radar, but a human is sitting in the van at the time the photo is taken? Why would a human (who can lie) be less objectionable than a machine (which can be tested for errors)?

-If proceeds from photo radar were used to enrich a company or an individual, rather than the government, would you have less of a problem with it?

-In what way does a photographic camera which only takes photographs of violators constitute "spying" in a way that an traffic cop sitting on a corner watching traffic continuously (including non-violators) doesn't? If I'm driving within 10 miles of the speed limit and not running red lights, and I pass by a photo radar camera, no one even knows I was on the road. But if I'm driving safely, and I pass a traffic cop, the government does know I was on the road (and he can run a scan on my license plate, pull me over because he's in a bad mood, and so on).

-Would you really be happier if every photo radar camera were replaced by an armed traffic cop who pulled you over when you ran a red light or went over the speed limit, and spent half an hour looking up your information and lecturing you before writing you a ticket, while passersby gawked possibly asking you to get out of the car if you looked suspicious? Would you feel more 'free' in that kind of society?

In other words, I don't see how opposing photo radar is in any way a libertarian or 'constitutionalist' stance to take. Photo radar is a great alternative to dealing with police officers (who have bigger problems to deal with).

You just don't get it. Personal liberty has been eroded to the point that people don't even know what it means anymore. That's the problem with this country. I am a Libertarian and have read many of Jefferson's papers and letters. He warned against government control. He was right. I am against any uneccessary government intrusions and this is just a step toward a totally surveiled society. I will not debate this any further as it is quite apparent there are way too many people who need the government to watch over them to feel safe.

[Climacus]

I don't need the government watching me on the road to feel safe.

I just need them watching everybody else.

[beentheredoneitwonit]

If those of you that think it ok for the police or city officials to hire private co. to issue these tickets and fines, and you think that 150.00 ticket shoulld just be paid because they sent it to you then you deserve to have your constitutional rights violated.I for one have the right to and do demand that the ( the police and gov. officials) also follow the laws they swore to up hold, Their oath.! And rather than ask my Senator or legislature person to please do for me what they are suppose to be doing. Rather I have found that we don't need signatures on a document . But that my own action can and does get the results needed.

[ianmaclean]

out of state person gets photo radar ticket. are citizens legally responsible for getting in touch with the process server who is harassing them to get served with the ticket? they enter secured apartment buildings illegally by following other people in through the door or buzzing other apartments.

[azriverfan]

The truth is it varies. I know people who have successfully dodged the process servers and I know people who have tried but failed to dodge them. It's a risk and it depends on if you were willing to gamble. My advice is if the car is regsitered to you and you are in the photo, you should pay it and be willing to endure a class so that it doesn't appear on your insurance.

However, I have gotten a photo speeding ticket by one of those vans that park on the side of the road. My car was registered in someone else's name and so that person simply responded on the ticket that the driver wasn't her and she didn't know who it was. Nothing happened to her and we got out of it. I know a lot of people who have done this.

[azriverfan]

I personally like the photo radar. I regularly speed and go 5- 10 over the speed limit so I'm not a perfect driver by any means. However, there are so many lunatic drivers in Phoenix that I'm grateful for those speed cameras on the 101. Prior to those cameras, you would see people racing on the 101 driving over a 100 mph and they were dangerous. People are also unwilling to run red lights at intersections with lights. I've noticed a change in peoples' driving habits and it's made the roads safer. I don't like the concept of big brother watching you or the state getting rich, but I do think the roads are safer as a result of them. I sure as heck slow down when I see those things. And honestly, what's the point of speeding 20 + miles over the limit? You are only going to save 5 to 10 minutes at the most. Is it really worth risking your life or others just so you can get to work 5 minutes faster. It's not worth it.

I can understand not wanting them on the freeways but I wish every intersection had a red light camera. I know someone who died at a red light intersection. He was a young man with a promising future. He had just gotten accepted to medical school and was killed by someone who ran a red light. I also know someone who was recently hit by a young man who had ran a red light. His car was totalled but no one was hurt in the accident.

[nitram]

You people complaining your Constitutional Rights are being taken away for your driving mistakes need to get yourself educated. Driving is, and always has been, a privelege, not a Constitutional Right, and that privelege can be taken away from you if you are not a responsible driver.
And if you got caught once for a traffic violation, how many times have you broken the law and gotten away with it. The law of averages caught up to you. Quit your whining and pay up.

[mobiusaz]

Originally Posted by nitram

This is from the AZ Motor Vehichle Dept: The MVD reports about 37,000 Arizona drivers' licenses were suspended by default judgments in 2005, after accused drivers didn't show up in court to contest the citations.

Default judgments can be set aside.