I was just recently standing on the curb at 11th and Hennepin on the east side of Hennepin headed toward the river. Those familiar with downtown will recognize this as a main exit point from downtown for people headed out I-394. So the light on Hennepin turns red and as I look east on 11th there is a black Lexus about a quarter block away still rolling. I mean this guy wasn't even close. The lights have a delay so nobody pulls out and gets hit and I'm smart enough on this occasion to stay on the curb practicing my old "stop, look, and listen" exercise. (is that still taught to children?) Now I can see the temptation to vote in favor of the photo cop program given that situation but I am still troubled by it. I mentioned this to a friend the other day and he said "i understand the whole thing you're talking about. I've changed over the years. Now I feel it's about being for the greatest good." I did not challenge Steve at the time. But I would ask this: "Can it ever be said to be for the greater good to enforce a law without a mechanism for due process? And if so where do we stop? What will be next?" Now this guy today would not have had a leg to stand on so he is not the best example but how can a single camera take in all the factors that a policeman might be able to do. And will photo cop prove to be a deterrent or will this be another case of those who can afford to run red lights will continue while those less well heeled citizens will be made to pay, or in the case where they can not pay and don't, then at some later date find themselves sitting in jail overnight and bailing themselves and their cars out the next morning. Remember that these will be treated like parking tickets in that they will not go on a person's record but will be in the system as traffic warrants. At least that is how I understand the bill. And if I am wrong and they do go on the car owners record how can this work in all fairness. Somebody help me on this one! This is a real tempting proposal to support. We see people running red lights all the time In Minneapolis. If a bill passes in a house committee and it and its companion bill in the state senate go to the floors and are passed and if our formerly rabid individualist libertarian type governor who does not think you can legislate against stupidity signs the bill, then this is something the city of Minneapolis will be allowed to pursue. This could be a cash cow with little or no investment as there are those companies that contract to do it. Maybe it would be better to put a little longer delay on the lights and then we could be reasonably sure it would just be impatient people cancelling out other impatient people. The rest of us could just sit and watch from the sidelines. A bit of dark humor as you might think about the issue. And if one thinks red light running is a serious problem but is concerned at the ramifications of photo cop what could we do in its place,if anything? Tim Connolly Ward 7 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
