Traffic Light Cameras? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!
Not only is the editorial staff over at the Gainesville Sun against the right of the People to keep and bear arms, they are also in favor of a police-surveillance state.
The editorial states:
"The Florida Legislature has long refused to allow the use of cameras to catch red-light runners (even though the state uses them to fine motorists who don't pay their turnpike tolls.) Red light running is lethal behavior, and cameras are the most effective behavior modification devices. Lawmakers ought to stop excusing irresponsible drivers and authorize the use of cameras to save lives."
This is not acceptable. There will always be an imbalence in power. The people who have power will take advantage of it. Traffic light cameras do not catch only people who run red lights. They mostly catch people who enter the intersection during a yellow light. I have read (don't quote me unless you have a reliable source handy, I'm too busy to look it up) that in cities where traffic light cameras were installed that they shortened the yellow light time. There was a huge increase in tickets given, and thus a huge increase in revenue for the city. And you casn't say that the money has nothing to do with this. Governments always give noble reasons for parting us with our money, but the fact is that collectively, governments tend to be the greediest, most rapacious entities on the planet. Why do you think speeding tickets cost more than reckless driving tickets? Because speeding is easier for them to notice, so that's where the most money can be made.
And don't pretend that this isn't about the money. The editorial mentions that "[t]he state has raised the fine for red-light violations (in this county, from 121.50 to $186.50). The additional money, appropriately, will help fund trauma centers." It's all about the money. The more trauma-center funding depends on traffic citations, the more traffic citations will be issued. Mark my words.
Traffic light cameras hold the car owner responsible, not the driver. If you lend your car to someone, or it is stolen and that person runs a red light, you get a ticket. Not them. Tell me, what does this do to discourage people from running red lights? Nothing. Because the person performing the action is not held responsible.
I might support red light cameras if, and only if, they activate when a driver enters the intersection after the light turns red. But that's a remote possibility. I am uncomfortable with a government that watches its citizens all the time and I disapprove of a government that extorts money from me to do it.
Story can be found online at http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20060302/EDITORIALS/203020316&SearchID=73237249338471
The editorial states:
"The Florida Legislature has long refused to allow the use of cameras to catch red-light runners (even though the state uses them to fine motorists who don't pay their turnpike tolls.) Red light running is lethal behavior, and cameras are the most effective behavior modification devices. Lawmakers ought to stop excusing irresponsible drivers and authorize the use of cameras to save lives."
This is not acceptable. There will always be an imbalence in power. The people who have power will take advantage of it. Traffic light cameras do not catch only people who run red lights. They mostly catch people who enter the intersection during a yellow light. I have read (don't quote me unless you have a reliable source handy, I'm too busy to look it up) that in cities where traffic light cameras were installed that they shortened the yellow light time. There was a huge increase in tickets given, and thus a huge increase in revenue for the city. And you casn't say that the money has nothing to do with this. Governments always give noble reasons for parting us with our money, but the fact is that collectively, governments tend to be the greediest, most rapacious entities on the planet. Why do you think speeding tickets cost more than reckless driving tickets? Because speeding is easier for them to notice, so that's where the most money can be made.
And don't pretend that this isn't about the money. The editorial mentions that "[t]he state has raised the fine for red-light violations (in this county, from 121.50 to $186.50). The additional money, appropriately, will help fund trauma centers." It's all about the money. The more trauma-center funding depends on traffic citations, the more traffic citations will be issued. Mark my words.
Traffic light cameras hold the car owner responsible, not the driver. If you lend your car to someone, or it is stolen and that person runs a red light, you get a ticket. Not them. Tell me, what does this do to discourage people from running red lights? Nothing. Because the person performing the action is not held responsible.
I might support red light cameras if, and only if, they activate when a driver enters the intersection after the light turns red. But that's a remote possibility. I am uncomfortable with a government that watches its citizens all the time and I disapprove of a government that extorts money from me to do it.
Story can be found online at http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20060302/EDITORIALS/203020316&SearchID=73237249338471
posted by AC Sentinel at 10:29 AM
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