do you agree with the use of cameras to control traffic?

Question

to use video cameras on city streets to capture red-light runners. The city will ticket and fine violators.

Answer 1

The theory here is great. It gives you the benfit of more police, without having to have actual cops handing out traffic tickets. But the applications I've seen so far are horrible!



Car and Driver has had several write ups on these. In most cases, the cities are not buying the cameras, they are in partnership with the manufacturers. Those contracts give a portion of the revenue to the manufacturers (so the city can claim $0 cost). The cities have to commit to so much rev per year. The net results...the yellow lights have been shortened, so they can catch more red-light runners. There are no rules governing the time length of a yellow light. Car and Driver went to towns that had these cameras and verified that the yellow lights, on lights with cameras, was shorter than the yellows on lights without cameras. These cameras are not being used to enforce traffic laws, which I would support. They are being used to generate revenue, which I find abhorrant. If you want a new tax, pass one legally! Don't try to sneak one through, particularly one like this that bumps up your insurance rates!

Answer 2

There's an intersection here in Peoria, War Memorial Drive at Sterling Ave./Glen Ave., where the left turners from Sterling/Glen frequently keep entering the intersection long after their turn arrow turns red and the straight-through traffic gets the green light. And because it's such a very wide intersection, it takes them a while to get across, which holds up traffic going the other direction, limiting the number of cars that can get through on the green. If there were traffic cameras capturing the license plates of these guys, sending them tickets in the mail, I'm sure traffic would flow a lot better there, and it would be a lot safer for everyone.

Answer 3

I have no problem with it. It's the same, only more efficient, than having a police officer stationed there, and much cheaper in the long run. You can't argue with the evidense right there in front of you on film, so it also will save money on court time for police officers. Those who follow the law will do fine, those who chose to not follow the law may have to deal with fines/tickets/etc.



In the long run, it could benefit us all by being money saving program; in addition, if your friend or loved one is killed or injured in an accident where there is a camera it could help provide a way to find out who did it and how it happened.



They also serve as a deterent to crime, which is a great feature.



I have no problem with the privacy issue, too--we are driving on public streets. There is no inherent privacy there when you are out in public.



If can't do the time, don't do the crime is what we used to say where I worked!

Answer 4

You bet! Why would anyone not agree? It is still illegal to run a red light even when there is not a police officer watching. It's a great way for towns to raise revenue and also a great way to enforce a traffic law. Say you got 2 or 3 of those photos in the mail of yourself running red lights, along with a fine. That person will stop running red lights.

Answer 5

Yes too many people go though red lights and drive like idiots and cause wrecks that could be avoided by obeying the law.. I would put them up at every intersection. In CT they have speed traps on the highways like that and I love it

Answer 6

It seems like a violation of basic civil liberties . I certainly don't need someone seeing me do whatever I may decide to do in my car . The British have a term for this, "nanny state", and the British are pretty pissed at their government right now . A lot of it has to do with the nanny state .

Answer 7

Yes because they shouldn't be breaking the speed limit. It's there for the safety of the public and it's unfair for someone to get away with it because nobody important is watching.

Answer 8

I think the use of any tool to catch anyone breaking the law is just fine. We need to obey the laws. If we don't like them, then try to get them changed.

Answer 9

I don't, because in cities that use them they've shown no impact on the number of offenses. So they're just another way for municipalities to shake down their constituents for revenue, while doing nothing to improve safety.

Answer 10

yes, it allows the police to concentrate on other, more violent, crimes