I know of an impeccable source who is a power player in a Rust Belt city.
Whenever the mayor and city council resist one of his (re)development plans, he reminds them that he has a petition to remove red-light cameras always at the ready for circulation and, eventually, a place on the ballot.
The council members contemplate the loss of $15 million annually and quickly dance to his tune.
The ‘safety’ argument has been undermined dozens of times by the very people putting the argument forth. It is thoroughly discredited except among the gullible.
This is what traffic cops are for.