We have a right to face our accusers. Who is the accuser here? The fuzzy picture of a license plate, or the person that makes up a plate number for the one he cannot read? If you have kept up with this issue, you know that in DC it is practically an epidemic, and accounts for millions in [illegally confiscated] revenue. It is literally a sick joke that is a crime.
Not only are these practices not protecting us, they are tools for corrupt agencies to steal our money and freedom.
I'm in favor of huge fines for red light runners. But only if they are caught by a person who witnessed it and can be called upon to swear under oath that he did see it. It's pretty damn easy to sit at an intersection and catch red light runners all day long.
I don't disagree with you. Abuse of the law by authorities is one thing. If it were happening here I would raise hell. But it isn't. The camera shots are clear as a bell and include a picture of the stoplight.
The DC incident is very very common.
You also have the abilty to "hard wire" the camera to always give a positive if it has been triggered.
IOW: if the shot is in reality close, the program automatically issues the time code a full second earlier to put the person in the red light. (you could even have a delay to take the second shot of the red light even though the person passed a red.)
The DC incident was over 3 second yellow lights.
There is also a significant constitutional issue since the private company is paid by the fine. (another reason for the DC fraud)
In law school year ONE criminal law we study how a judge may not be compensated by the fines he issues. Here we have a camera company acting as judge being compensated for the crimes in which they generate the evidence.
all: millions of dollars are on the profit line, follow the money folks.