Posted on 11/07/2013 6:40:04 PM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
A pilot program in which surveillance cameras were installed near traffic signals in Rochester to catch motorists running red lights has been upheld by a judge who rejected the constitutional challenges of an attorney whose vehicle was among those caught on camera.
The law, V&T §111-b, allowed the city of Rochester to install up to 50 cameras at intersections and authorized a civil fine of $50. Under the law, the owner, whether or not he or she was driving the vehicle, is liable for the fine but can sue the actual driver for indemnification. The statute makes clear that a finding of liability does not constitute a conviction or add points to one's drivers license.
[Supreme Court Justice J. Scott Odorisi] found the law strictly civil in nature and, consequently, subject to a lower level of due process protection.
Odorisi said the surreptitious surveillance is actually less intrusive than traditional traffic stops, where the motorist is asked to produce registration and insurance documents, and may be questioned by a police officer who has an opportunity to peer into the vehicle.
However, in a footnote Odorisi acknowledged the potential for abuse "that sweeping changes in technology may bring, and each such alleged over-stepping will have to be assessed on its own specific facts and circumstances." In another footnote, he recognized "the potential for negative workplace repercussions for a driver who uses his or her employer's vehicle in the private workplace and receives a red light infraction notice."
(Excerpt) Read more at newyorklawjournal.com ...
May he get a ticket once a week for the rest of his life.
That should be easy enough. Find out the license number of his vehicle, spoof it, and speed through a couple of red lights.
The rest is automatic ;’)
my town - Im told the NYSDOT minimum for a yellow light is 4 seconds - in some instances it was shortened to 3 after the cameras were installed
i like the way you think
notice “in the private workplace..”; what about the government -owned or leased vehicle snapped running a light?
Oh wait! How could I forget,government is always exempt from the rules,like the cop talking on a cellphone who made a right turn without stopping at the four-way stop intersection I was approaching . Reverse the positions ,no doubt I would have been ticketed for disregarding the stop sign AND using a cellphone in motion .This town is one of many with signs warning “rolling stops are $$$,complete stops are free”.
I’m not advocating dangerous vandalism but I am surprised that more people don’t practice their sniper skills on these cameras.
Here’s what happens. The cameras are installed. Revenue looks good at first. Soon drivers learn and adapt, and revenue plunges. Then they shorten the yellow light.
I hear ya. How many times do you see a police car trucking along at ten miles over the speed limit (without its siren on)? Fast driving is illegal because it is supposed to be dangerous. Why is it less dangerous when a cop does it?
Here it is, I think: http://politicaloutcast.com/2013/09/happens-drivers-get-fed-speed-cameras/
Google Gatso Vandalism. It shows how the Brits take care of speed cameras.
“May he get a ticket once a week for the rest of his life.”
Judges license plate; digital camera, take picture, color printer, install color print of judges license plate on someone elses car; drive through red light cameras, get tickets sent to judge.
Statists Gonna State.
Here in Maine, on a rural two-lane paved road across from where I lived many years ago, a Maine state trooper was driving his cruiser over the speed limit.
He was not on an official call....he was driving over the speed limit because he could.
A woman was backing out of her driveway, and the speeding trooper crashed into her.
He, of course, had minor injuries, but the woman was killed.
The “accident” was investigated by the authorities, but the trooper got off scot-free.
Looks like a great place to recycle your old car tires.
Hear they get that a lot in Merry Old England. :-)
Lawsuits have been won in other states (Georgia I think?) over just such a situation.
That doesn’t look F-350-with-Ranch-Hand-bumper proof.
In England, they “necktie” speed camera (they are street level), with a junk tire, rags, and gasoline, which fries the internals.
in other places these laws have been overturned because they can’t prove who’s driving the car, that they can’t issue the ticket to the vehicle owner because of this. and have won their cases.
red light cams are just revenue machines. many are not installed correctly at wrong angles and ‘catch’ people who are not running a red light. dc is notorious for these problems.
they also can’t issue tickets if your license plate digits aren’t fully readable .
yes that s another ‘trick’. and it makes the intersection a lot more dangerous, for pinching a few bucks from citizens.
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.