Senator tries to stop red light cameras

NBC25 ^ | 2/28/02 | By Cheryl Conner

[CFW]

HAGERSTOWN, MD FEBRUARY 27 - The debate on red light cameras heated up in Annapolis as a local senator took strides to knock them down.

Senator Alex Mooney introduced legislation to put the breaks on installing red light cameras in Maryland.

The intersection at Franklin Street and Potomac Avenue is one area where drivers frequently run red lights. They won't be caught on camera if Senator Alex Mooney's legislation passes.

Senator Mooney said the cameras are intrusive big government. He said they remind him of Cuba, his mother's native country, where there's constant surveillance from government. Senator Mooney admits red light running is a safety hazard, but he said a police officer can better judge the severity of the crime.

"If someone runs a red light and almost runs over a pedestrian in the middle of rush hour that should be very strictly punished. If someone goes through a red light, and it's the middle of the night, that's less of a crime, less of a problem. It's still wrong, but you need a human being there to interpret how bad was the running of the red light or any reckless driving," stated Senator Mooney.

Senator Mooney testified before the Judicial Proceedings Committee Tuesday. If it passes committee, the bill moves forward for a vote on the Senate floor

[LJLucido]

I suppose one good thing about a red light camera is that it won't use the violation as a pretext to stop your car and conduct an illegal search for contraband.

That said, however, I agree with the senator and would like to see these things banned.

[LJLucido]

put the breaks on

The author needs to proofread his plays-on-words. I think he meant "put the brakes on."

[LJLucido]

go read some of the statistics on intersection collisions and their human and financial cost and you might change your mind

I don't need to. I helped extricate bodies from crashed cars for 16 years, and I'm completely in favor of vigorous enforcement of red light and stop sign violations. I just don't like mechanical devices that snap away indiscriminately at those who weren't aware that the yellow lights are now a half-second instead of two seconds.

Incidentally, the very worst accidents I've responded to were drunks going the wrong way on freeways. Don't know what mechanical devices will stop that except maybe wrong-way spikes on freeway ramps.

[society-by-contract]

What is the state doing in the road business? That is socialism. Private industry could much better provide roads.

Brady (capitalist)

[CFW]

Here is another one for ya!