Speed Cameras Are Good For Lower Taxes
My Beautiful and Talented Wife (The BTW) and I have both been caught by speed cameras -- several times for each of us -- in recent years. So before you start screaming that I would feel differently if it had happened to me, please keep in mind that it has and my opinion is still the same.
This is all prompted by this story in The Washington Post about local celebrity chef Geoff Tracy being unhappy about being caught speeding three times by the cameras in his neighborhood. Note that Chef Geoff doesn't say that he wasn't speeding, only that he didn't like being caught and having to pay the fine.
I don't like paying fines either, but I do like it when a government does something efficiently and that's what speed cameras are: a highly efficient way to enforce existing law.
A local government could accomplish the same thing by having a police officer at the same location 24/7, but it would be far more expensive to do it that way. Using technology -- a speed camera in this case -- allows the local government to provide the same level of law enforcement at a lower cost. From a budget perspective, that's something we should be doing as often as possible.
The usual complaint is that speed cameras are just a way for a government to increase revenues by imposing more fines. That ignores the fact that, if the cameras are operating properly, the fines are only imposed on those who are actually breaking the law.
The cameras would make no sense and would be costing a government money if there were no speeders. As Chef Geoff admitted, the cameras have gotten him to drive at or below the speed limit so he's no longer getting tickets.
You want the speed laws changed so you can drive faster? Go tell the city council and get them to enact an amendment.
But don't demand that taxes be lowered if you're not going to allow the government that's imposing the tax from being as efficient as possible.
(Chef Geoff says he's going to hire someone to stand on the corner with a sign warning drivers about the sign. That's the equivalent of voluntary taxation and I'm sure something the local government appreciates.)
red light cameras programmed for profit not safety
Red light cameras make sense in theory. Unfortunately, many cities have changed the light cycle timing for the purpose of increasing profits from the cameras. here is one of many articles summarizing the issue: http://www.alternet.org/rights/145752/cities_shortening_yellow_traffic_l...
behaviorally, people are so adverse to getting a ticket that they are more likely to slam on their brakes and get rear-ended.
Speeding
It would be nice to know what the impact was on your auto insurance policy premium as well as whether your license was suspended for frequent moving violations. If neither occurred then all those cameras are doing is raising some revenue. Safety be damned. Keep speeding. It seems like you can afford it.
And here I always thought traffic laws were enacted to keep the public safe not the government coffers full.
Safety
Jeff, the topic is speeding cameras, not red-light cameras.
Anonymous, all of us other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians who also use those local streets appreciate the safer speeds. The results of safer speeds are safer and more friendly conditions for other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Whether your license is suspended or your insurance premium changes has nothing to do with it.
Now, if only we could get these cameras in Michigan...
Cameras
Where I live we have both speed cameras and red light cameras. They are nothing more than revenue raisers, not safety tools.
One, because they can't identify the driver, there are no points added nor are they reported to insurance companies.
Two, they are considered civil fines to the owner of the car. If Joe Employee is driving the company vehicle, the company on the title is required to pay the fine.
Three, not only do they shorten the yellow lights, the authorities here complicate the light system by putting them on corners with unusual systems, like both left turn, right turn and straight forward lights all set to change at different intervals.
Four, every time you come up on a speed camera (everyone knows where they are)many drivers instantly slam on the brakes and go by the camera at 15 to 20 mph below the speed limit.
The final justice is that a woman driving on the expressway got so startled by the camera that she ran into it and destroyed it.