But do they cut down on red-light running?
That's the purpose after all isn't it?
Red-light camera violations carry a $90 fine. As of October 5, more than 67,400 violations had been issued.
"The project is the first stage of a planned citywide video surveillance strategy that will link City departments into a single network."
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CTA buses each carry a new full-time passenger who never blinks and is invaluable in solving crime. The new passenger is a digital camera that takes approximately four pictures per second.
"Lt. Clark Schroeder of the Public Transportation Section said: "We're watching. That's all I can tell you. We're out there and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.""
Well, we probably need them. We have something of a culture of red-light running here and probably need to take whatever means necessary to change it. Probably means I'll get a ticket, though I try not to do it.
Someone told me that in NJ the culture is to take off real fast from the light. That will get you killed in a hurry in Houston. NJ and Houston drivers apparently do not mix.
The real purpose is to generate $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ not only for the city but the companies building/maintanining these systems!
As for safety:
The cameras do lower red light running and therby t-bone crashes (headon collision into side of crossing traffic). These are the more deadly kind of collisions.
But many more rear end collisions occur at the light as some drivers thinking that they can make the light run into the drivers ahead of them who decide they need to stop.