Posted on 05/07/2010 7:50:44 AM PDT by opentalk
PHOENIX – Arizona is ending a groundbreaking and contentious program that put speed cameras along Phoenix-area freeways and in vans deployed across the state.
Opponents have argued the cameras open the door for wider "Big Brother" surveillance and are more about making money than safety. The program has been the target of an initiative measure proposed for the November ballot.
Even Gov. Jan Brewer has said she doesn't like the cameras, and her intention to end the program was first disclosed in her January budget proposal. That was followed by a non-renewal letter sent by the Arizona Department of Public Safety this week to the private company that runs the program.
The camera program was instituted by Brewer's predecessor, Janet Napolitano, now the Homeland Security secretary. Cameras were introduced in September 2008 and were added until all 76 were up and running by January 2009.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The people were going to vote them out anyway in November.
Helps the illegals exit the state faster.
Another strike against the Nanny State.
I hate those cameras. The one time I was flashed and ticketed, other cars were traveling at the same speed as me. No “live” cop would have pulled me over. The speed limit had changed on the stretch of highway I was on, I must have looked the other way and didn’t see the 55 mph sign, and flash! I hate those cameras. I’ll even volunteer to help pull them down.
Isn’t this the police/Nazi state? Removing cameras?
Ironically Maryland welcomes illegals, yet photos us driving to send us fines $$$$$.
The cameras were put there for only one purpose — wealth transfer from the productive to the non productive.
It was operated by a company out of Australia ,Redflex, The company would keep part of the traffic fines.
recall one that was completely wiped out, four tire skid marks to it...i guess somebody panicked and caused a chain reaction...
powerful lil boxes they are...
She sure was creative in finding ways to drain AZ residents of their cash!
They should only use the cameras to watch the illegals go south or west.
heh
Arizona lost millions on this Napolitano scam.
I thought these were thrown out, as an ‘invasion of privacy’ issue.
Seems there was a guy with his ‘girlfriend’ in the front seat. He was speeding, got his picture taken with the time, date and a picture of him, his car, his license plate, and his girlfriend sitting in the front seat of the car. Proof positive that he was driving the car, it was his car, and the speed limit, his rate of speed, the time, date and location were all printed on the photo.
Problem was that he had told his wife he was out of town, on business and alone at the time. The wife used the picture in the Divorce, and he sued the state for invading his privacy.
I thought these cameras were losing so many cases that they would be eliminated anyway. (Can’t confront/cross-examine your accuser in court when it’s a camera...)
The camera were really about closing a budget gap, Neapolitano said as much when she had them set up. They new that raising taxes was unpopular, and far be it from them to cut one nanocent worth of spending.
12,000,000 loss.
The creepy thing about the story is a foreign company monitoring speeders and then take part of the fine money when you are caught. The more cameras the more money they make.
There’s no way the state has to guarantee you received your ticket in the mail unless you are personally served. You can imagine how often that happens. After 180 days from the flash date, the ticket is void anyway. What a ridiculous scam. Also, we’ve seen drivers obviously intoxicated but driving slower than the speed limit who weren’t flashed at all.
The form looked official, but after contacting a JAG friend at Ft. Huachuca, he said, "Ignore them, statute of limitations is 120 days....just don't answer your door to a process server".
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