Cedar Rapids redlight cameras and speed cameras (driver, personal)

[Mercruiserdr]

Red Light Camera Studies Show They Increase Accidents

"The preponderance of independent research (in other words, research that was not funded by ticket camera vendors or units of government interested in justifying camera-based traffic enforcement) has illustrated that ticket cameras typically increase, not decrease, the number of accidents at controlled intersections."


"A local TV station fact-checked the city's claims that their ticket cameras reduced accidents and found that the opposite was true. At 20 of the 32 intersections studied, accidents increased and several intersections tripled their accident rate."


"The Virginia Transportation Research Council released a report expanding upon earlier research into the safety effects of red light cameras in Virginia. It showed an overall increase in crashes after cameras were installed."


"A study prepared by the North Carolina A&T State University found that red-light cameras increased the number of accidents at intersections."


Red Light Camera Studies

http://www.motorists.org/red-light-cameras/

[wretched wrench]

Los Angeles has recently completed a study of red light cameras that showed inconclusive results on both safety and revenue. It seems that the only real benefit of red light cameras is to the companies operating them. Most of the offenders were those who did not make a complete stop before making a right turn. This is not a big safety issue. The safety issue is high speed red light running, which is rare, but often devastating. Usually a drunk, BTW, which brings up the advantage of a police patrol over a camera. Cops are good at spotting drunks. Cameras are not.

[Mercruiserdr]

From "the camera never lies" file.


Speeding enforcement camera catches the wrong culprit


•Sonia Nano has never been to Sangamon County.

•She does not own a 2005 Nissan.

•She in no way, shape or form looks like the woman caught on camera May 25 speeding through a construction zone on Interstate 55.

So the Chicago resident was more than a little confounded to learn she was issued a ticket for driving 62 miles per hour in a 45 mph work zone.

"It is a very, very, very bizarre situation," Nano said. "If it didn't happen to me, I would never have believed it."

Speeding enforcement camera catches the wrong culprit - chicagotribune.com

Just think of it as a speed tax Honey, and remember , "its for the children".

[bch7]

CR area people do have a problem with running red lights and not signaling in general so I'm on the fence with the cameras. What appalls me is that the city allows 30% of the revenue generated by these cameras to be paid to the 3rd party that "owns" the cameras. I see this as an ethical issue allowing taxation of the residents without approval by the residents. What percentage would enrage residents? 50%, 60%, 70%? When you hear of the revenue that these things generate, the numbers are staggering... I need one in my front yard...

For those of you that travel the I380, wait until they sync those things at every ramp and exit so they calculate your average speed between points. Your mean speed better be less than 76mph!

[d4g4m]

But folks, don't you know that revenue cameras, I mean red light cameras are for safety?
Not only are the private companies operating the systems raking in millions of dollars, they reduce the states recommended 'yellow' time on the traffic light to make even more money. [a federal study of red light running concluded that if 1 second was added to the 'yellow' time, red light running would be reduced by 90%] Revenue camera placements aren't selected by the amount of vehicle crashes at an intersection, they are installed at intersections that will make the most money. And your local politicians and county traffic engineer is complicit in this sham.
btw- watch for the increase in rear end collisions where ever a revenue camera is installed.

[hugepossum]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

Red light cameras at every intersection are fine with me. Speed cameras don't bother me either, although putting them on the interstate, as they're doing on I-380, might be going a little bit too far. Don't break the law and you won't get caught.

The reason people hate these is because they think that cops at least give them a sporting chance to get away with stuff, whereas cameras are "unfair."

I sometimes wish that I had a lightsaber so I could jump out of my truck and topple the posts that the cameras are perched atop. Only sometimes though.

I think I could run for Scott county sheriff and win on the grounds that I would get rid of all speed/light cameras in the quad cities (even though I have no law enforcement experience). People do not like these things.

I am actually suprised that some political action group has not put forth a "public measure" or proposition to remove them now and forever. I would be extraordinarily suprised if folks would elect to keep the cameras on a straight yes or no vote.

[UW Badgers]

I am not one to run red lights but I can understand why people do it. Hardly any of the lights sync with each other. Nothing like getting a green light and having to stop at the next one a hundred feet away, While the one you just made is still green. Plus, half the lights in this city should be flashing yellow by about 9pm and they aren't.

I think the red light cameras are stupid and for a city that has no money, it's a waste. It's just less work for the most lazy PD department to do...

[zz4guy]

My thoughts are: Slow down to 55mph 500 feet before, and hit the gas when they pass. What a stupid way to control speeders. Oh well buying crap like this keeps those inflated state budgets going so they're approved for more waste next year.

[Echohunter]

Originally Posted by Mercruiserdr

Think about it peeps !



Also bear in mind that using these cameras denies those accused of a crime the right to face their accusers in court , one of the basic fundamentals of our legal system.
If the picture indicates you are guilty you have to pay,, CASE CLOSED !

Sorry....use of these cameras does not deny anyone the right to face their accuser.... any person who recieves a traffic violation ALWAYS has the right to face their accuser in court which is, as you say, one of the most basic tenets of our legal system. . ..
. . . .. . ...you still have that right .. . DEMAND IT. . . the problem becomes the city's when they cannot produce the individual who can produce anything but hearsay evidence. ..which is inadmissable in our court system .. .

..and it really begins when you are informed that, rather than a trial, you can protest your innocence at an administrative hearing. . .where nice men in blue uniforms will happily assist you in leaving town with a lighter wallet. .. ..all the while not telling you that you didn't need to give up your rights at the door at all .. . . .because if they did tell you that . . .then no one would pay the fees this revenue raising scam is bringing the fair city of Cedar rapids.. ..


. . PAY ATTENTION .. . KNOW YOUR RIGHTS . . ..DO NOT PAY THESE TICKETS . .. .STOP GIVING YOUR MONEY AWAY. ..

[ashcody]

The main thing that bothers me is when you're on 380 and there are clusters of cars...personally, I would rather be ahead of the crowd instead of all grouped together. I know where all the red cameras are...usually just slow down when I know they're coming, I don't speed excessively but I don't drive 55 anywhere.