[jdege]

For me, for traffic light cameras to be acceptable:

1. They would have to provide proof that the car entered the intersection while the light was red (and not just proof that the car was in the intersection while the light was red), and

2. they would have to provide proof of who was driving, and

3. the vendors who installed and operated the cameras would have to be on a fixed-price contract, so that they would have no financial incentive to falsify the system, and

4. the funds raised through fines must not, in any way, be used in a way that provide any sort of financial or political benefit to any level of governmental authority that had any level of oversight, no matter how indirect, over the management and installation of the traffic lights.

In other words, there should be no motive, either on the part of the vendor or of the government to manipulate the lights and/or the cameras so as to increase revenues.

[DariusBane]

They would be acceptable to me if they hung city council members who vote for this stupidity from them.

Your passive willingness to cede personal power to strangers makes me want to vomit.

[Chode]

100%!!!

[supercat]

For me, for traffic light cameras to be acceptable:

I would add a few more requirements:

1. Traffic which entered an intersection after the light turned read should suitably delay the corresponding green light. After all, if the purpose of the cameras is to improve safety, the traffic light circuitry should use them for that purpose.
2. Only in the scenario where a vehicle entered an intersection when the opposing lights and it appears the driver made no effort to ensure that there was no opposing traffic, should the fine be of a level appropriate for a safety violation.
3. Scenarios in which entering an intersection on red would not require vehicles which are already in motion to change their behavior, but which would require stopped vehicles to wait longer before getting underway, should be fined at a level appropriate for a courtesy violation.
4. Fines should only be assessed against people who enter an intersection on red after stopping or slowing below 2mph to ascertain that there is no possible opposing traffic if in the three months prior to the infraction there have been zero instances of a police car or other government vehicle doing such a thing. Anyone who is ticketed for such behavior and can provide evidence that within the previous three months government vehicles had engaged in such behavior would be entitled to a refund of 150% of the ticket amount and costs; people who had been ticketed would be entitled to share such evidence.

Those sound like good additional requirements?

[stevie_d_64]

They won’t do that...Really???

Why cut off your nose, dispite your face???

Priority number one, make the money...All other ocnsiderations are secondary or not considered...

Public safety is never a real incentive for these programs, it only sounds good forthe media to help justify the revenue generation for the municipality...

[ArmstedFragg]

Item 4 would be difficult. They produce revenue and they’re overseen by politicians. Anything a politician spends revenue on buys votes for himself, even if it’s crossing guards.