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Posted on 08/13/2014 8:29:21 PM PDT by Olog-hai
France’s army of roadside speed cameras may be more numerous than ever, but the revenue they pulled in through fines was almost €70 million less than the government expected last year. […]
French newspaper Les Echos reported that the 4,150 speed cameras that litter the country’s roads yielded €579,300 last year.
While that sounds a healthy amount to be taking out of the pockets of speeding motorists, it was less than in 2012, when rogue drivers boosted state coffers to the tune of €620 million. […]
What makes it worse for the government, whose finances seem to be Europe’s biggest worry right now, is that authorities had expected to pull in €647 million. …
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.fr ...
Sabotage is also to blame. Last year’s violent “Bonnet Rouges” protests against the controversial eco tax saw around 220 cameras destroyed in acts of vandalism.
As much as it hurts me to say it... Yeah, France!
Ha Ha. It is not about safety, it is about revenue. Tyranny at the stop light. Ya think?
Bump.
Not only is the government’s desire for money insatiable, but they lie through their teeth about it with this “safety” crap. They should be pleased that fewer lights get run. Instead, it’s “what are we going to do with less money?”
Earnings?? WTH. How's that for perverted reasoning? They consider confiscated money as "earnings". Barf.
Dangit the government hates it when people obey the law and kill their revenue stream...: )
The oddest part of this is, the French post signs warning of the speed cameras well in advance of the areas where drivers get zapped. If you’re paying any attention at all, you have a kilometer to slow down.
Yup!...and if I told you breakfast was free..but only if u came around to the back door...I know you’d be there in a heartbeat...Know what I mean?...*G*...my pigs have to eat too!
Ayn Rand proven right once again.
Love to see how well that sort of rule would go over in certain mid-eastern and southern states that love their speed traps.
That said, as much as I hat Hawaii's low sped limits, they do seem to have signs warning you of "Reduced Speed Ahead" some distance before the actual "Speed Limit" sign. Suppose it theoretically gives you some buffer to ease off the velocity.................
Some day I will measure the distance between signs to see if there is some rule about spacing, if ever nailed, dontcha know.........
No doubt they will soon impose a, “road use tax” and repurpose the cameras to full time tax enforcement. This will be on top of tolls and fuel taxes.
These are absolutely for revenue just as the Sheriff of Nottingham collected his tolls from the masses. Many states have databases where the officials (politicians, police, judges, etc )have their license plates kept anonymous supposedly for their security, but it exempts them from traffic cameras. These cameras are intended to assess the sheep, not government and political elite.. The cameras should be focused on the officials not the citizenry.
Another is that there are phone apps that notify the driver as they are approaching the camera to slow down and they are getting better.
Wonder if it’s like America’s red light cameras where half of the fine goes to a private for profit company with connections.
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