Posted on 10/18/2014 10:00:41 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows
Drivers in Chicago have gotten wise to speed cameras, budget figures show, and now the city needs to come up with $50 million in revenue.
Chicagoans are costing the city tens of millions of dollars -– through good behavior. Mayor Rahm Emanuel underestimated the intelligence of Chicago drivers, and the city paid for it big time.
On a smooth, wide, well-travelled stretch of Irving Park Road, running between two cemeteries — no homes, no stores, no parking — the city of Chicago is trying to balance its budget. Each flash means a photo; each photo, a violation. Each violation: a hundred bucks, from red-light and speed cameras.
CBS 2 has learned the speed cameras caught far fewer speeders than expected. According to the Mayor’s 2015 Budget Overview, there have been “lower than expected violation rates.”
How much lower? Fifty million dollars lower.
Emanuel’s administration had figured on $90 million in fines to help balance this year’s budget, but they can only count on $40 million. That’s a $50 million shortfall, putting pressure on the next spending plan.
“It was a combination of the camera company’s salesmanship and the city’s greed,” says camera critic Barnet Fagel. The city was expecting a nearly $100 million windfall by flooding the city with the speed cameras, using proximity to schools and parks as justification. The speed camera on Irving Park is listed as close to Challenger Park, which actually looks more like a parking lot — and is, during Cubs games.
-snip-
A report by Inspector General Joe Ferguson maintained “the City cannot prove red-light camera locations are based on safety considerations.” And a University of Illinois at Chicago study concluded “red light cameras are not effective in improving safety.”
(Excerpt) Read more at screen.yahoo.com ...
Now, studies are showing an increase of bad accidents, as some motorists slam on the brakes on yellow, causing others to violently rear-end them...
For most of them in this country, it would take only a rope and an 8 lb maul. You lasso the top with the rope and a good swing with the maul crimps the base of the flimsy aluminum pole and you pull it down.
We don’t have the cameras around here (Kentucky), but it is what the ones in the Seattle area look like they are very vulnerable to. My religion prevents me from doing it, but it sure looks like it would be easy for anyone who knows how to actually swing an axe.
I went through a yellow in Tacoma where, although I made it through on yellow, it turned really FAST. I couldn’t resist and went back to check. Sure enough it was a photo enforced light.
Those sleazy ba$tard$!
All government is no longer working for the people but are filling their pockets with spoils from stupid traps.
Having received parking citations from the Windy City, and having heard the long stories from our kids who live downtown(the city towed their car without notice or cause, lost it, and then charged massive impound fees) I can tell you they are looking for any opportunity to collect revenue. Out of staters are like tasty fresh meat to the machine.
John Semmens would approve.
I would guess that the insurance companies aren’t thrilled with Red light Cameras either! LOL!
In Europe, they “necklace” the armored cameras with old tires filled with gasoline and rags, broiling the (expensive) electronics inside. So the governments installed cameras to watch the speed cameras. They get those too.
Sounds amusing.
Citizens in Anaheim,CA. voted to ban red light cameras forever, more cities need to let the citizens decide instead of treating them like piggy bank.
Quite understandable... after all, they elected him.
Let the stores and businesses fight the battle. Just let them know that you won’t be shopping in their town until the lights go.
It’s up to them.
Indeed.
There is a little town in Central FL that is notorious for Speed Traps.
Needless to say, they are not a center for tourism, but are merely someplace where tourists drive THROUGH (very carefully1) to get to somewhere ELSE!
Touche!
BTW, that quote in the video about underestimating the intelligence of the American people came from H. L. Mencken, not P. T. Barnum. Trust a journalist to get the facts wrong.
AND, lower the speed limits.
bump
Yep - and the irony is that they are usually touted as public safety measure, which would make them happy if people changed their behavior and didn't speed...
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