I pass at least two traffic-cams on my way to work in Midtown Cleveland, which is only a 10 minute drive. Sadly, they're not going anywhere.

I would have little problem with red light cameras were the government to lengthen the yellow, instead of shortening it to the legal minimum (and sometimes a bit shorter). When they pull crap like that it becomes obvious that safety is of no concern, only money.

Who still supports these things outside of politicians?

Here in Bradenton, FL the cameras are ALL about money. The fine is sent to the owner of the vehicle and there are NO points, NO hit against your record or notices sent to your insurance company.

They get away with this by saying running a red light is a violation of a CITY ordinance. This way they bypass all the state legal crap.

I'm Not from Here: Here in Bradenton, FL the cameras are ALL about money. The fine is sent to the owner of the vehicle and there are NO points, NO hit against your record or notices sent to your insurance company.

They get away with this by saying running a red light is a violation of a CITY ordinance. This way they bypass all the state legal crap.


Yeah, in Cleveland it's administered by the parking violations bureau.
Just another way to generate revenue.

vygramul: Who still supports these things outside of politicians?

Traffic camera manufacturers.

I'm Not from Here: They get away with this by saying running a red light is a violation of a CITY ordinance. This way they bypass all the state legal crap.

If that's true, then they need to look up "jurisdiction".

schattenteufel: Yeah, in Cleveland it's administered by the parking violations bureau.
Just another way to generate revenue.

I love how they've labeled most traffic violation "civil offenses", so they can deny you most of your Constitutional rights. Even though the laws broken are written by the Legislature, enforced by the Executive and tried by the Judicial. Even though you face jail time (loss of liberty). Even though you face fines (loss of property). They don't have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. They don't even have to prove you committed the crime any further than you are the owner of the car.

Having lived in Germany and gotten flashed late at night by automatic speed cameras, I don't have a problem with red light cameras, especially in Florida.

I know we all have mistakenly done it. But I swear to FSM that too many drivers think red lights are optional. And not just in FL either as I see it often here in Alabama.

You all whine about their function as primarily revenue generators for city & state governments. Too farkin' bad. When the light goes yellow, just stop. Don't go farkin' faster. So deal with it.

/Lost too many friends and acquaintances to bad drivers.
//Have dodged and avoided many red light runners over the years too.

AirForceVet: Having lived in Germany...

re: red light runners

The dangerous ones are not the guys who get halfway through the intersection before it goes red. The dangerous ones are the ones who plow though the intersection well after the light has gone red and cross traffic has started. The problem is both are the same monster in many peoples' heads.

Now, I'm not advocating that the guy who gambled on the yellow and lost should get off scot-free, just that he's not the dangerous one; he is the one paying the vast majority of the fines though. Red light cameras do not make for safer intersections. Many studies have found quite the opposite actually. The drop in "t-bones" is more than offset by the number of "rear-ends"

AirForceVet: I know we all have mistakenly done it. But I swear to FSM that too many drivers think red lights are optional. And not just in FL either as I see it often here in Alabama.

I hate 'bama drivers. I am down there a few times a year, and I'll be damned if I don't see at least half a dozen people run red lights AFTER driving 5 UNDER the speed limit for miles.

Just do the alloted 5-10 over and you would never have to worry, Granny Clampett.

R.A.Danny: I am down there a few times a year, and I'll be damned if I don't see at least half a dozen people run red lights AFTER driving 5 UNDER the speed limit for miles.

I see something similar here in MD all the time. I'll be driving along doing at or slightly above the posted limit, when some jackass turns off a side street, ignoring a stop sign, cuts me off and then not only drives slower than me, but *under* the posted limit. And I'm not talking about it being 1AM on a cloudy night with no moon, thick fog and a blinding rain. It'll be noon on a cloudless day.

Stop signs and right of way? F that! Those laws don't matter. But speed limits? They only tell you what the safe speed is in "perfect conditions" and I've never seen perfect conditions.

AirForceVet: I know we all have mistakenly done it. But I swear to FSM that too many drivers think red lights are optional. And not just in FL either as I see it often here in Alabama.

New York City, too. Also Las Vegas. I've had many near misses in both these cities.

Between this and the gay marriage ban, some people are really scared of being rear-enders

But what does this mean for OBAMA!?!?!?

Good

Stop running red lights, assholes.

I'm Not from Here: Here in Bradenton, FL the cameras are ALL about money. The fine is sent to the owner of the vehicle and there are NO points, NO hit against your record or notices sent to your insurance company.

They get away with this by saying running a red light is a violation of a CITY ordinance. This way they bypass all the state legal crap.

Here in the Houston area, I believe the rationale is that it is a civil violation, rather than a normal criminal violation, and that is why they can just send you a bill in the mail. I don't agree with it, but there it is.

AirForceVet: When the light goes yellow, just stop.

Except that the Rules of the Road are that yellow means "Proceed with caution". So it's ridiculous that you can be ticketed for going through a yellow light that turns red while you're in the intersection.

I used to live in Newark, OH, so I am getting a kick out of these replies.

/Left before the red light cameras.

Red light cameras I'm ok with (even though just got a ticket for one). Speed cameras are retarded. Nothing like having a highway going 80....55.80....55.80.....

Excellent. The best part?

In College Station, Texas the city's automated ticketing vendor American Traffic Solutions (ATS) bankrolled a front group to conduct mass mailings and push polling in an effort to save the program that would have earned the company more than $11 million over the life of the contract. The ATS-funded group reported raising $71,240 in contributions, but not one dollar came from anyone living in the local community. To supplement the vendor's effort, the city allocated taxpayer money to send red light camera promotional material to every voter.

...and it still failed.

Edsel: AirForceVet: When the light goes yellow, just stop.

Except that the Rules of the Road are that yellow means "Proceed with caution". So it's ridiculous that you can be ticketed for going through a yellow light that turns red while you're in the intersection.

I didn't think you could be. I was under the impression that if the light is yellow when you enter the intersection, and turns red at any point after you enter the intersection, you are fine and cannot be ticketed for running a red light.

TwelveToneRow: Edsel: AirForceVet: When the light goes yellow, just stop.

Except that the Rules of the Road are that yellow means "Proceed with caution". So it's ridiculous that you can be ticketed for going through a yellow light that turns red while you're in the intersection.

I didn't think you could be. I was under the impression that if the light is yellow when you enter the intersection, and turns red at any point after you enter the intersection, you are fine and cannot be ticketed for running a red light.

That is my understanding as well. Once your wheels are across the stop line, you're golden.

I'm Not from Here: Here in Bradenton, FL the cameras are ALL about money. The fine is sent to the owner of the vehicle and there are NO points, NO hit against your record or notices sent to your insurance company.

They get away with this by saying running a red light is a violation of a CITY ordinance. This way they bypass all the state legal crap.

We have the same deal here. So you know what I do when I get one of these mailed to me? I throw it out.

They send a couple of threatening letters, then they go away.

I hope everyone that works for one of these red light camera companies gets cancer of the dick.