Posted on 07/28/2009 8:34:40 AM PDT by libh8er
Hopefully you're not the sort to risk things by gunning it when the light turns yellow, pushing your (and our) luck, saving yourself a few seconds on the race to the next intersection, and sneering red light cameras. Maybe if you knew the kind of hardware in there you'd have more respect: Nikon's D2X digital SLR. We had no idea there were pro-level shooters in there, but a New York City couple certainly did, running around the city with a cherry picker and pilfering 22 of the things, all sold at pawn shops for a total of $88,000 $6,600 -- money that was promptly spent to further their heroin habit. These two channel swimmers, 45-year-old Anthony Cintorrino and 29-year-old Tara LaBurt, got away with this for a full month before the authorities finally caught up with them. When they were approached they said they were with the DoT... then promptly started running. They didn't get far. Crime doesn't pay, folks, even if it's for a sweet body like that.
Update: The cameras were worth $88,000, but the couple pawned them off for a measly $300 apiece, netting a total of under seven grand. That's a crying shame
I like at least seeing the sign posted at the traffic light. In my city, they are around 100 feet before the intersection, on the curb side, sometimes behind a tree.
And they will now ticket you for making a right on red. Sometimes.
Things that make you go ‘Hmmmmmmmmmm’
Especially if you do so without coming to a complete stop.
In our town they do at many intersections. Of course they've put some big "No Right on Red" signs out. They are generally in common U-Turn intersections and a lot of accidents happen when someone turns right on red while the left turn parallel to them was doing a U-Turn (one happened right in front of me the other day.)
Is there no decency anymore? The thought of one thief stealing form another thief... -s-
And the taxpayers of NYC aren’t upset that the city spent four grand each on these things. Could do the same thing with a lesser model at less than half the price.
Some interesections with red light cameras have a cut away lane on the right with a yield (but not stop) sign. What to do, what to do...
To be fair, lesser models won't do. You need a rock solid autofocus system that can accurately focus track a speeding vehicle. That's available only on the high end (professional) models from Nikon and Canon. But to the govt it's not a big deal. If 22 were stolen, they will order 22 more. And if those get stolen too then another 22...
See, it's Tax Dollars Well Spent™ because it will earn back for Government more than Government originally took from you!
It's a win-win for Government on both sides; what's the problem?
/sarc
It's a zero cost investment with high yield. They took from you, so they can take from you even more.
The fines levied were *civil* fines. 90% of all civil fines (by law) needed to go to the school system. After the Red Light Camera Company got their skimoff, I mean admin fee ($35 out of every $50 fine) ....there wasn't enough to satisfy the school system requirements.
So....rather than have the localities make up the difference to the schools, the City Councils just had the cameras pulled entirely.
Thus proving that it WAS all about money after all, and that safety had nothing to do with it.
They wouldn’t use autofocus. The cameras would have the lens locked at a certain focus point. They would use the professional bodies for their long life and networking abilities.
At least some heroin addicts found something to steal that no one will complain about.
Government always has to have the best.
" Photo from Google Earth"
Maybe someone will do a public service by painting targets on these things. A .22 caliber should be enough to trash one of these cameras without endangering the public.
EXACTLY! I mean, who can be against these things? It’s FREE MONEY for the Government! LOL
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