KC’s red-light cameras become operational starting Saturday

Kansas City Star ^ | February 18, 2009 | Tony Rizzo

[MissouriConservative]

Kansas City is about to put the pedal to the metal on its first red-light camera.

Beginning Saturday, red-light runners at 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway can expect to receive a letter in the mail with instructions on where they can send their $100 fine plus $13.50 in court costs. Visa and MasterCard will be accepted.

*****SNIP*****

Sensors in the road are linked to the cameras, which capture still and video images.

One photograph captures a vehicle as it nears the intersection after the light has turned red. The system tells the monitoring officer which lane the vehicle is traveling in, its speed and how long the light has been red.

A second still image is taken while the vehicle is in the intersection. Video captures eight to 10 seconds of the sequence.

The camera provides a close-up of the vehicle’s rear license plate but does not show the driver. Because the driver cannot be verified, the fine is assessed to the vehicle’s registered owner and is not considered as a moving violation.

It is a violation if the light turns red before the vehicle’s front tires reach the wide white stripe marking the intersection and the vehicle continues through, Murray said. If a vehicle passes the stripe before the light turns red, the vehicle will not be ticketed.

Officers will take into consideration other factors, such as slick pavement, when assessing if a violation occurred.

[MissouriConservative]

The camera provides a close-up of the vehicle’s rear license plate but does not show the driver. Because the driver cannot be verified, the fine is assessed to the vehicle’s registered owner and is not considered as a moving violation.

Giving someone a ticket and not being able to prove they were driving? So it's the vehicle's fault and the vehicle gets the ticket? How screwed up is that?

[freedumb2003]

Unconstitutional, but then again, so are all “infractions.”

The USC lost all its meaning generations ago.

[MissouriConservative]

I’m a lot suspect of a system that can’t identify a driver and tickets the owner of the vehicle even if they are not the ones driving.

[AbeKrieger]

I guess they equate these violations to parking tickets. Can’t prove who parked teh car, but the owner still gets the ticket and fine.

As long as there’s revenue to be had, it’s all good, right?

[devistate one four]

Break out the pellet guns and have some practice

[2ndDivisionVet]

Anti-photo devices:

http://www.loover.com/

http://www.specterguard.com/

http://www.phantomplate.com/

[tnye]

We have red light cameras where I live (Tennessee), and I am glad to have them. People used to blast through red lights all the time — it really made driving a rough adventure. Since the red light cameras went up the red light runners have greatly diminished, and we’ve seen fewer accidents. Personally, I think they should be installed at any major intersection. The only people who need to worry about them are the ones who are ignoring the law and/or not paying attention while driving. Either type of driver should be off the road.

[DBrow]

That’s the basis of DEA forfeitures. They charge your cash or house with the crime and even have a trial. Look for cases like “in re a sum of money” or a street address.

Skynet is issuing traffic tickets!

[7mmMag@LeftCoast]

George Orwell was prescient.

[Vaquero]

related story

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2187434/posts

[Outland]

"Anti-photo devices:...."

Be advised that those devices, as well as the retro-reflective spray on coatings and most license plate covers and frames are often made illegal in municipalities where red light and photo radar cams are used.

[Outland]

"As long as there’s revenue to be had, it’s all good, right?"

It's ALL about the revenue.

[WOBBLY BOB]

isn’t this another state that can’t afford to refund the taxpayer’s tax refunds?

read somewhere they average one state employee for every 160 residents.

[ohioman]

“We have red light cameras where I live (Tennessee), and I am glad to have them. People used to blast through red lights all the time — it really made driving a rough adventure. Since the red light cameras went up the red light runners have greatly diminished, and we’ve seen fewer accidents. Personally, I think they should be installed at any major intersection. The only people who need to worry about them are the ones who are ignoring the law and/or not paying attention while driving. Either type of driver should be off the road.”

Liberal fascists agree 100% with your opinion.

Maybe if we're lucky, there will be police cameras on our private property in a few years. We wouldn't want any lawbreakers to get away with anything now would we. Safety is much more important than liberty isn't it. (sarcasm off)

[a fool in paradise]

Busdrivers and offduty police officers are pissed that they can no longer run through lights and their unions fight being required to pay these tickets.

The ticket money is split between local concerns and national corporations that market these lights. Seems the corporation doesn’t give a damn WHO is running through a light when they are not responding to an emergency call.

[a fool in paradise]

If we want to increase safety how about we put cameras in city jails (and the initial holding cell) to catch instances of officers beating up people they’ve hauled in.

Seems to me that it is a multimillion dollar lawsuit lurking in some cities (certainly mine) since the higher ups are well aware of what goes on (they refer to when the officers are putting on the black gloves). That is negligence and lack of control of the ranks.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

$100, huh?

Your honor, I request a jury trial in order to cross any and all witnesses to this alleged infraction.

[Outland]

"We have red light cameras where I live (Tennessee), and I am glad to have them. People used to blast through red lights all the time — it really made driving a rough adventure. Since the red light cameras went up the red light runners have greatly diminished, and we’ve seen fewer accidents."

Since we've had them in the Chicago area, we have had more rear-end collisions than before. As soon as the light starts to change, people jam on their brakes. That's a real hazzard in the rain or snow.

Another problem is that many are afraid to make a right-on-red turn since the cameras often start flashing even when a legal turn is made. So instead, drivers just sit there until the light turns green.

The municipalities that put these cameras up are only interested in the ticket revenue. If there were no longer any violations being made, the cameras would be operating at a loss. Those cameras are leased with a contract that is suppose to provide a minimum number of fines per day at any particular intersection... of which, the owner (usually Redflex of Australia) gets a juicy cut. If the fines dwindle, Redflex will either remove the cams or the municiaplity has to pony up the difference.

[gieriscm]

I may already be too late, but... get out ASAP and time the duration of the yellow light. In a lot of cities the yellow light was shortened so that more drivers would be ticketed.