Stop the DC photo scam commuter tax (living, safety)

[Phyxius]

Originally Posted by dougp

Apparently, people do not drive on the DC beltway. Driving 59, 61, or 63 in a 55 on the DC beltway is slow, way slower than typical speeds, and "speeding" at this level is never enforced.

This is purely a money making exercise for DC.

As a matter of interest, all the infractions occurred before I received a mail notification - clearly, once I became aware of the speed trap, I stopped cooperating with the photo scam speed trap. Based on my experience, I think the threshold for the trap is 5mph over the speed limit.

But I'm not looking for sympathy. I'm looking for support to convince the DC government to change their policies. Join the boycott!

and you never notice a flash going off in all three infractions?

I guess driving 73 in a 65 is slow too, right?

[Carlingtonian]

Ok, so the original post is a little dramatic--but I too have been nailed by these cameras, and I too believe they're at least as much about revenue enhancement as they are traffic enforcement. The worst spot I've seen is on Virginia Avenue NW, going west. I.e., if you go up the E Street ramp from I-66 and turn left onto Va. Ave. after passing the State Department. It's a four-lane, divided arterial, surrounded by mid-rise office buildings; in most places, the speed limit on such roads is 35. But then you go under the overpass (23rd Street), come up, and only then--if you look about 100 feet ahead on the right--do you see the sign posting the limit as 25. And that's where the DC cop will be waiting. This is where I got hit for $30. I think I was going about 37-40 or so.

MacArthur Blvd NW is also bad--again, 25 mph--but you can go 11 mph over and be OK.

[MSUdom5]

The cameras seem like a win-win to me. Source of revenue for DC (win for them), and penalizing those drivers who break traffic rules (win for the good, safe-driving, law-abiding drivers). Personally, I think we need a lot more of these around the area.

[spencgr]

[quote=Carlingtonian;22996692]Ok, so the original post is a little dramatic--but I too have been nailed by these cameras, and I too believe they're at least as much about revenue enhancement as they are traffic enforcement. quote]

I 100% agree, but what better way to raise revenue? The other method is to raise taxes or add fees elsewhere. This way, only those breaking the law have to pay. It's not like the DC Police Department is making a profit off of these tickets for the shareholders.

(I know this is DC and we Northern Virginians won't be affected if they raise taxes, but let's pretend this is our area.)

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

MacArthur Blvd NW is also bad--again, 25 mph--but you can go 11 mph over and be OK.

Not correct. Maryland allows 11 over before the cameras snap your pic, DC does not allow that.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by HokieFan

I was under the impression that you had to be exceeding the speed limit by a certain MPH before the cameras caught you. Is that not correct?

Out of curiousity, if one is going 5MPH over the speed limit, would they get a ticket?

That's Maryland that allows up to 11 over, not DC. You will be ticketed for 5 over in DC.

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by dkf747

That's Maryland that allows up to 11 over, not DC. You will be ticketed for 5 over in DC.

Good to know.

[chicagotodc]

I hate the macarthur one too. It seems so unnecessary and randomly placed. I've been nabbed twice in two years. It happens. 25mph is pretty easy to accidentally go over unless you are really paying attention.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by dkf747

That's Maryland that allows up to 11 over, not DC. You will be ticketed for 5 over in DC.

That's good to know, but I gotta say I'm surprised, because the one time I got a ticket there, I got it dismissed by writing a letter in which part of my defense was that I could theoretically have been going only 10 over. That said, maybe they went with the fact that it was raining. (You could see raindrops in the photo.) Also, I routinely go 5-8 mph over on MacArthur, and I have yet to get another ticket.

Originally Posted by spencgr

... what better way to raise revenue? The other method is to raise taxes or add fees elsewhere. This way, only those breaking the law have to pay. It's not like the DC Police Department is making a profit off of these tickets for the shareholders.

I would agree if they were busting people who were speeding by any signficant degree, in an area that's clearly marked. My beef is that here's a road where customarily 35 mph is the limit, and you have no way of knowing (unless you travel it regularly) that it's actually 25mph. (If I'm going 50 there, then I deserve any tickets I get.)

[Smoke_Jaguar4]

I have to regularly drive up Suitland Blvd through DC to MD. There are at least three areas where the speed limit changes and DC loooooooooves to put the speed-cams. Also, every intersection has redlight cameras with a 0.00000001 second yellow light. My solution? I drive 30 mph the ENTIRE way to the state line. Moreover, many of the locals have started doing the same thing. It looks like a geriatric conga-line in the right lane as people slowly snake through, and then there's always some yutz who blows by in the left lane and triggers the camera.

The way to address this problem is to pressure the VA legislature to pass a law not recognizing reciprocity for automated speed enforcement. We may not change DC's wayward government, but VA still has a rural good'ole boy mindset that won't cotton to this totalitarian tactic.