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I agree with you. A number of years ago when the news interviewed a Sgt. or Lt. with Montgomery County, MD Police, and asked him if local radio station announcing where radar units are located bothered him. He clearly stated no, not at all since he does not want to write tickets but just to get citizens to slow down. A good cop.
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Originally Posted by 14thandYou
Ahem:
Now, it seems to me that if the goal of red light cameras is to cut down on the number of people who run red lights and thus endanger the safety of other drivers and pedestrians, you would want to encourage people to slow down and obey the law--which is, after all, the purpose of alerting drivers where the cameras are.
You could try not running red lights if looking up the location on the Internet is too big a challenge.
I don't run red lights but that's not the point I'm trying to make. Saying that their posted on the Internet is such a weak effort to alert people where they are located.
You could try not starting at that empty bottle if a different perspective is too much to handle.
Now, it seems to me that if the goal of red light cameras is to cut down on the number of people who run red lights and thus endanger the safety of other drivers and pedestrians, you would want to encourage people to slow down and obey the law--which is, after all, the purpose of alerting drivers where the cameras are.
To be fair, I think the alternate viewpoint is equally compelling: The app is most likely to be used by people who would consider running red lights (otherwise why bother downloading it) - and if the app tells you that there's no camera / you can get away with it then you are more likely to run the light.
That said, I wholly agree that red light cameras are there for revenue not for safety. Just take the random speed trap on Macarthur near the reservoir. What possible safety purpose could it serve monitoring an area bounded by fence on one side?
Someone distracted, looking at an "app" on their cell phone while driving, trying to figure out where they can run red lights...it's a terrifying reality.
I agree with you. A number of years ago when the news interviewed a Sgt. or Lt. with Montgomery County, MD Police, and asked him if local radio station announcing where radar units are located bothered him. He clearly stated no, not at all since he does not want to write tickets but just to get citizens to slow down. A good cop.
The statistics are pretty clear. Red light cameras reduce red light infraction, not only at monitored intersection, but elsewhere too. Why would one oppose enforcing a sound law. Innocent people are injured by red light runners.
The statistics are pretty clear. Red light cameras reduce red light infraction, not only at monitored intersection, but elsewhere too. Why would one oppose enforcing a sound law. Innocent people are injured by red light runners.
I'm not opposed to the existence of red light cameras per se--I've seen the statistics as well and agree that there is a rather strong correlation between the use of cameras and a reduction in reckless behavior. I simply think that "safety" is not the sole purpose behind the installation of the cameras; the fact that red light cameras generate a not-insubstantial amount of revenue for the jurisdictions that use them can't have gone unnoticed.
I'm not opposed to the existence of red light cameras per se--I've seen the statistics as well and agree that there is a rather strong correlation between the use of cameras and a reduction in reckless behavior. I simply think that "safety" is not the sole purpose behind the installation of the cameras; the fact that red light cameras generate a not-insubstantial amount of revenue for the jurisdictions that use them can't have gone unnoticed.
Win win as far as I'm concerned. The city needs revenue to run. Taking it from irresponsible people is better than taking it from the population at large.
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