I strongly second Chris's position! The analysis done by the Weekly Standard is quite an eye opener! If Minneapolis is going to adopt this strategy, we need to make sure that the red-light camera scam being used in other cities is not repeated in Minneapolis! The technology apparently works, but it is not being used to protect the public, it being used to pick their pockets!
Jim Bernstein Fulton -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Johnson Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 4:35 PM To: Charles Gimon Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Red Light Cameras Charles Gimon wrote: > > Anyone with an interest in red-light cameras should read the > 5-part expose written by Matt Labash of the Weekly Standard > in 2002: > > http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/078fto qz.asp After reading the extensive multi-part report at the above web site, I have completely reversed my position. I am now opposed to red-light cameras, even though I am in favor of giving tickets to people who run red lights and stop signs. After reading the research in the above report, it is clear that both the companies who provide the red light camera equipment, and every government entity in the USA which has used them, all suffer from horrible lapses of ethics and honesty. Instead of using the red-light cameras to improve safety, their claimed goals, they have been uniformly used to generate revenue and profits. If cities using them really wanted to improve safety, they would start by lengthening the yellow lights to improve intersection clearance, and then install the red-light cameras at intersections which had the worst safety records. However, in case after case across the nation, this has been exactly what did not happen. Unfortunately, there is no reason to believe that Minneapolis would be any better at proper use than any other city. And this doesn't even begin to touch on the subjects of privacy and accuracy of all those photographs and vehicle registrations being handled by the employees of the private, for-profit companies running these programs. I highly recommend reading the report at the web site above, whether you are for, against or undecided about red light cameras. It's chock full of information, from a real investigative journalism piece -- something we never see in the Star Tribune it seems. Chris Johnson - Fulton REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
