red light cameras in the u.s.a?

[zahid26]

What do you think about the red light cameras in the U.S.A?

[gaylasue]

They are becoming more popular in bigger cities.  I guess that's one way to get revenue!

[AdamH1978]

It's a good idea, regardless of privacy issues.  They make people think twice before taking the risk of running the light.  It has been quite controversial in my city as they have been implemented within the past 3 years.  When they were first installed it was announced in the newspaper and tv that no one would get a ticket for their first red light ticket during the first 30 days of service.....

I took them up on this offer purposely, but when no cars were around I ran a red light to see the cameras flashing on my car.  Sure enough I received a picture of my car from several angles in the mail running the aforementioned red light.  I was pretty impressed with the technology.   In total on the same page there were about 4 pictures at different stages of me running the light, the time of day, and even the speed my car was going!  Maybe it was stupid for me to test the system, but it was interesing.  I won't be testing the law again.

[jwallbank]

I hate them!! I got caught by one in Maryland, Maryland has them all over the place, not just close to DC. They have them all up and down rt301 which is mainly rural. The problem in MD is they have a tendacy to put them at Red Lights at bottom of hills or at Hills and turns, so that you can't see it until you are on top of it. I received a $78 dollar fine for mine, I just payed it because between time off of work/Gas and inconvenience and probably loosing anyway, It would have cost me more that the $78 dollars to fight it and then Loose anyway. I think county/city Govt's now this so it is a win win for them and they take advantage.

[mh874892]

My city had them implemented, but apparently it was costing more than it was gaining the city. And it was causing more trouble than good. There were more accidents from people slamming on their brakes to avoid getting caught. They have been phasing them back out now.

[sempermade]

Dont like the idea

[tartarsauce2008]

It's a great way for the state to make money (:

[Annella]

Just one more way to take the job away from a human......like a police officer. It makes revenue for the city, and they don't have to pay the camera. Another phasing out of the "human element" are those "self check out" kiosks at the grocery or other stores. You do the work yourself, and it puts another person out of a job. The prices aren't any cheaper, but it definitely makes money for the company as they are getting a "checker" free (you). They pay you nothing, and you do the job free for them.

Not only do we have to compete for outsourced jobs from people overseas who will do it for hardly nothing, but we have to worry about machines taking the jobs also. Not to mention the people who help big business through ignorance to do it by playing into their hands. So next time you use one of those "self check out counters", remember you are helping to put someone out of work.

[lvstephanie]

I dislike them for a couple of reasons:

• They tend to cause people to drive more erratic, braking or speeding excessively on a yellow because they don't want to be caught. I think in some cases, the cameras actually backfire as a result; the reason why there are laws about running a red is for traffic safety. But if the cameras are causing the driving populous to become more erratic when approaching an intersection on a yellow-light, it'll tend to cause more accidents which is the exact opposite intention of the red-light laws.
• They are not accurate it identifying the person that drove thru the red. Just like you can't pin a murder on someone solely because the gun was registered in that person's name, I don't think you should be able to pin the red-light offense just because the car was registered to the person. Just as it is the person pulling the trigger that caused the murder, it is the person driving that caused the red-light offense, not the vehicle itself. So if the picture is only focused on the license plate or cannot get an accurate picture of the person driving, then they should not be able to fine the owner of the vehicle with the assumption that the owner was the driver at that time.

[CharmedPhoenix]

They have them in Albuquerque.  I was following someone who knew how to get where we were going and they squeaked through the light without regard for the fact that they were leading me.  They were in a panel truck which blocked my view of the light until it was too late. I got ticketed.  I wasn't happy. 

They keep changing their minds as to keeping the project or not.  First they're on, then they're off, then they're on again.  I think Santa Fe is getting them now too.  There's many mixed feelings about them here.

[mlhnceh]

I don't have a problem with them because I don't run red lights. 

[southernhorizons]

We've had them for several years in a nearby town, so I've kind of gotten used to them. I think they give you some leeway before they give you a ticket, because I've gone through the red light a few times because the yellow light is so short that I didn't have time to stop. I still don't like the idea of them spying on me like that. And I think that they should not be able to send tickets in the mail. If a cop's not there to catch us, that's their problem.

[mrjack798]

They're useful, but sometimes they're just annoying.

[bowrunner]

I don't like being spied upon and I don't like being automatically guilty with no way to protest.  Just more liberties being taken away with more power to government.

[MessiahMews]

BIG BROTHER is watching you!