I have read several articles on red-light cameras from other cites where they have been implemented. The concensus of articles and opinions I have read on the subject is that they end up being used primarily as a revenue generator, and the lights wind up being configured to cause the most possible violations. Yellow cycles are shortened, for example, to catch drivers by surprize with a red, and snap. A citation is issued. Additionally, the party responsible for issuing the citations is the company who installs the cameras, and has an economic interest in raising the number of citations issued, as they share the revenue with the city which contracts them. This is clearly not about public safety. It is not the way laws are supposed to be enforced (by contractors with an economic interest). It is about money. Of course, we will hear every assurance from proponents of the system that tricks like short yellows won't be used HERE (we are morally superior to every other city in the nation, you know), but those same promises have been made all over the country already, and are broken in short order. Rybak has already attempted to use the police as tax collectors with his policy of policing for revenue. Why would anyone think red-light cameras would be any different?
Dan McGrath Longfellow http://www.smokeoutgary.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "David J Rust" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:08 PM Subject: Re: [Mpls] traffic violations > > On Jan 20, 2005, at 3:44 PM, Leurquin, Ronald wrote: > > > Does anyone know the status of the much discussed camera cops for > > ticketing persons running red lights? I personally am hoping we get > > them sooner rather than later. I was privileged to watch two > > different semi run the light at 50th and Hiawatha this morning. > > This is an interesting issue to me. > > On one hand, I have a fundamental discomfort with surveillance systems > being used by the state or state-sanctioned offices to spy on citizens. > > On the other hand, enforcement of traffic laws is always criticized as > either not sufficient to force good behavior on the road or taking away > police officers from more pressing concerns. > > In the end, I'm not sure that I'm fond of the cameras. I obey the > laws -we ALL obey the laws, don't we? <insert cynical smile, here>- but > even if it means fining another bad driver $100, I feel that the cold, > impartial eye of a camera is something that I don't want watching me. > Personally, I may be willing to live with the status quo or paying for > more traffic patrol officers as "visible deterrent" rather than relying > upon a somewhat Orwellian approach. > > I trust the police; I trust the real, human officers who can walk up > to my window if I've broken a law. I can talk to that person and I > appreciate the human quality of it. The cameras are another issue > altogether. The analogy that springs to mind is the automated voice > mail systems that have made talking to your doctor such a chore. I > feel that a dispassionate, computer-controlled system is something that > is intimidating. > > I'm not sure I want to feel as if Minneapolis is now under the > protective eye of something that I can't accept as "human." Even if > live police are monitoring the cameras on the other end, I would still > feel this way ... as if I was, to an extent, under "lockdown" in my own > home. > > I hope these feelings make sense to you; I want to bring my view as > clearly as possible without sounding "nuts." > > Yours, > David J Rust > NE Minneapolis > ====================================================================== > CONvergence Gaming Head (http://www.convergence-con.org/) > Co-Founder: the Witches' Informational Network > (http://www.witchinfo.net/) > Personal Homepage (http://www.visi.com/~phantos/) > ====================================================================== > > REMINDERS: > 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil 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. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
