Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Red-light cameras raise some red flags
Associated Press ^ | March. 13, 2009

Posted on 03/15/2009 12:35:41 PM PDT by george76

CLIVE, Iowa - Minutes after Neel Manglik illegally turned right on a red light in the Des Moines suburb of Clive, a video popped up on a computer at an office park outside Scottsdale, Ariz.

The $75 citation arrived in the mail weeks later, making Manglik one of the millions of Americans ticketed as part of a growing industry that is making handsome profits for companies that operate video cameras at busy intersections throughout the nation.

As more cities sign up and others invest their profits into more cameras, those companies expect increased revenue for years to come.

What's less clear is whether the cameras improve safety. While studies show fewer T-bone crashes at lights with cameras and fewer drivers running red lights, the number of rear-end crashes increases.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; US: Arizona; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: abuseofpower; bigbrother; corruption; donutwatch; govwatch; hiddentaxes; policestate; redlightcamera; redlightcameras; revenuetickets
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last
To: george76; Abathar; Abcdefg; Abram; Abundy; akatel; albertp; AlexandriaDuke; Alexander Rubin; ...
While studies show fewer T-bone crashes at lights with cameras and fewer drivers running red lights, the number of rear-end crashes increases.



Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!
21 posted on 03/15/2009 2:03:09 PM PDT by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

Hick and friends love catching their citizens for some extra revenue.


22 posted on 03/15/2009 2:07:31 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Hulka

There are these unfortunate constitutional issues of a mail in bill from a private company from another state.

No sworn officer, no proof of receipt of this bill, etc.


23 posted on 03/15/2009 2:09:33 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: big'ol_freeper

There are yellow minimums plus a lawyer might argue some constitutional issues on this.


24 posted on 03/15/2009 2:11:00 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: The Sons of Liberty


Got one of these on both my cars. Not sure it will help, but it's worth a try...
25 posted on 03/15/2009 2:14:46 PM PDT by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Requiescat In Pace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Charles Martel

Maybe a new paintball sport.....


26 posted on 03/15/2009 2:18:34 PM PDT by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Requiescat In Pace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kozak

That’s great! What are the laws regarding it?


27 posted on 03/15/2009 2:20:28 PM PDT by shortstop (FUBO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: george76

I’ve read stories of kids photographing the plates of teachers, then printing copies of the plates and putting them on a similar make and model of car, and intentionally running a light. Guess who gets the ticket?

Maybe if we start doing the same for our municipal “leaders” they will get the message....


28 posted on 03/15/2009 2:21:16 PM PDT by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Requiescat In Pace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: big'ol_freeper

I see.

Isn’t that wrong, as you can’t indict or charge someone without proof. . .like in the case of cameras recording a crime/violation and not actually recording who did the driving.

It is the state that has to prove you committed the violation/crime, not the other way around, otherwise our whole concept of innocent until proven guilty is thrown out.

This stinks on so many levels.


29 posted on 03/15/2009 2:27:12 PM PDT by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: CodeMasterPhilzar

You are absolutely correct, on all counts.


30 posted on 03/15/2009 2:27:56 PM PDT by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: The Sons of Liberty
Yes sir, pardon the independent thought. . I shall now march willingly to the nearest Obama re-education camp and become a democRAT for life.

/sarc

31 posted on 03/15/2009 2:29:23 PM PDT by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: george76
Hmmm. . .interesting points, all.

I see some higher court appeals in the future and (hopefully) this whole thing thrown out.

32 posted on 03/15/2009 2:30:56 PM PDT by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
Guy stops suddenly, gets rear-ended and pushed into the intersection, and the camera flashes, and he is cited for running the red light. . . oh boy. . . i can easily see that happen.
33 posted on 03/15/2009 2:36:48 PM PDT by Hulka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Hulka

When they had the photo radar in Anchorage, the camera needed a picture of the drivers face or they couldn’t issue a ticket. The ywould mail you the photo of your car and of you.

2 things happened to get rid of the photo radar. First, it was discovered that if you challenged the case, the company had to send the attendant out to defend the case, since they were too valuable collecting revenue that never happened, which led to everybody contesting them and it bogged the courts down to a crawl, the judges in charge basically threw all the photo radar cases out . Then the people of Anchorage got an initiative on the ballot making photo radar illegal, which passed overwhelmingly, and the company took their ball and sulked off back to Phoenix.

If the city or state has direct iniative available, this is a no brainer. Get the petitions out and get started. What better way to get the direct democracy drive going than a gimmee like this one?


34 posted on 03/15/2009 2:40:10 PM PDT by Gnomad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: george76

I’m glad these things haven’t infested the Augusta area yet.


35 posted on 03/15/2009 2:49:22 PM PDT by arderkrag (Liberty Walking (www.geocities.com/arderkrag))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Read the article, it’s even worse. With most of the operators, half the ticket revenue goes to them and only a small percentage ultimately drops into the government’s general fund.


36 posted on 03/15/2009 3:08:05 PM PDT by colorado tanker (Oh my God, am I hoping for change.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Hulka

Unfortunately, many people are mailing in checks and governments are making big money without the expense of hiring / training actual officers of the law.


37 posted on 03/15/2009 3:25:58 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Hulka

The cameras take a picture of the windshield and they compare the driver’s face to the license photo. If I’m ever at risk of violating a red light camera I flip down my sunvisor and stick my face behind it, just in case. I know it’s not safe and I’ve only had to use that technique twice, but it works. And twins can appear in court and ask the “prosecution” to prove which one of them was the driver. If there’s doubt, the case must be dropped.


38 posted on 03/15/2009 3:33:20 PM PDT by Two Kids' Dad (((( Two Kids' Dad ---- (T) - CA ** Join the "T" party ** ))))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: big'ol_freeper

Fight it and ask the judge to allow you to subpoena all photographic records of your incident. If the car behind was close enough - and shows up in a photo - the judge may see your point and find in your favor. Probably not, but maybe. It never hurts to try.


39 posted on 03/15/2009 3:35:13 PM PDT by Two Kids' Dad (((( Two Kids' Dad ---- (T) - CA ** Join the "T" party ** ))))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker

There likely is a large slush fund to reward and re-elect their political pals.

Free private plane rides for vacation junkets, etc.


40 posted on 03/15/2009 3:55:58 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson