As if they were about ANYthing other than raising revenue. Once Denton discovers revenues falling, they'll take two steps: First, they'll reduce the length of time a light is yellow to almost nonexistance; Then they'll remove the signs indicating which intersections have the cameras.
Note in this article that:
"More research on locations will be done before installing cameras, Fletcher said."
And the "research" isn't even going to consider which intersections, if any, actually have problems with accidents caused by red-light runners.
I don't never run red lights, but I think I'm going to get one of those light-diffusing license plate covers...
Can we sue the City of Denton when people start slamming on their brakes when the light turns yellow in an attempt to avoid the camera fine? The City of San Diego provded that these things are just another greedy government tool and not for traffic enforcement.
I suspect a lot of people despise those f*#@ing selfish b*st*rd red-light runners, and think it's high time something was done to kick them in their arses (and wallets). If it also just happens to generate revenue for traffic enforcement, so be it.
Last I heard on this issue, Lockheed Martin manufactures these cameras. They install them, maintain them, and they get a peice of the action for their efforts. That's right they get a percentage of all the fines generated. They have already been caught, in at least one instance, lowering the yellow light time as a way to increase their take. They would have gotten away with it, but an engineer got ticked and he challenged them and won. I wonder who monitors these revenue generators for accuracy at all the other locations???
Why don't we install "photo enforced" pork spending cameras in legislatures around the country? The moment a politician proposes useless wasteful spending or attempts to sneak it into budgets, the camera snaps a picture and sends them a bill.
Think of the improvement in citizen marksmanship though, now that the city is kind enough to provide all these free targets.
So, does anyone bother to resist?
Watch the time the light stays yellow drop dramatically. That is the way most cities make money off this. If a light previously stayed yellow for 6 seconds, after they install the camera the time will drop to 2 seconds so they can photograph you in the intersection with the red light on before you have time to react.
No comments smells. I find it hard to believe that no residents had any opinions one way or the other. Hmm I wonder if this were an agenda item added at the last minute. That how city governments usually work it at "public" meeting when they want to do something to sh!t on the public.
, they'll reduce the length of time a light is yellow to almost nonexistance
You betcha.
Had a friend and his family "T-boned" by a red light runner(no insurance)in Dallas, where routinely 2 and sometimes 3 cars run a light after it turns red. I'm in favor of connecting a .50 caliber to the camera and shooting all the 3rd car drivers for starters!
Stay the hell outta my way and don't impose your liberal BIG BROTHER restrictions on the way I drive BUMP.
(Yeah - it's just too damn difficult to use judgement and avoid running red lights.)
Yikes ping!