Red Light Cameras

Camper6 said:
I am a pedestrian. I never walk out just because the light turns green and the walk sign is on.

The guys turning right on a red light are the worst for a pedestrian. We have had a few deaths lately. The driver is looking left for cars coming. Does not see the pedestrian. I'm buying a yellow vest.
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I doubt that would help. As you noted, drivers aren't looking at a pedestrian; they're looking at traffic on their left. And they're frequently in a hurry to make the turn.
 

911 said:
Contrary to what some people believe, red light cameras are not put up as a money grab. The cameras do not come cheap, so they have to be paid for initially by using taxpayer’s money. Over time, fines will pay these costs. It’s doubtful that any village or city could station a cop at every corner with a redlight, so the next best thing is to use a camera with underground sensors.

These cameras have become very controversial because they only take a picture of the car and license plate. Many drivers that receive a fine in the mail will challenge the fine and tell the judge that they weren’t the driver. In PA, our law states that the vehicle is receiving the fine and that the vehicle’s owner is responsible for the fine.
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Thing is, and unfortunately, 911, there will be those that will totally disagree with you about "red light cameras are not put up as money grab." I totally agree with you, but I'm very, very pro-law enforcement, since I worked with them as an EMT.

There are those today that simply "want to do what they want to do"...……..run red lights, stop signs, speed, tailgate and weave in and out of traffic. They don't like "authority" telling them what to do. They will think of a number of reasons why they shouldn't get a ticket, whether by an Officer or in the mail, for not obeying traffic laws. They may even get upset over a "courtesy stop" to tell a driver that they have a brake light out. Could be just a "courtesy stop", w/no ticket, but the driver still didn't like it. You already know that from your past experience.
 
win231 said:
I doubt that would help. As you noted, drivers aren't looking at a pedestrian; they're looking at traffic on their left. And they're frequently in a hurry to make the turn.
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I'm going to give it a try. For some reason a yellow vest sticks out among the unwashed and uneducated especially at night if they are reflective.
 

ClassicRockr said:
Thing is, and unfortunately, 911, there will be those that will totally disagree with you about "red light cameras are not put up as money grab." I totally agree with you, but I'm very, very pro-law enforcement, since I worked with them as an EMT.

There are those today that simply "want to do what they want to do"...……..run red lights, stop signs, speed, tailgate and weave in and out of traffic. They don't like "authority" telling them what to do. They will think of a number of reasons why they shouldn't get a ticket, whether by an Officer or in the mail, for not obeying traffic laws. They may even get upset over a "courtesy stop" to tell a driver that they have a brake light out. Could be just a "courtesy stop", w/no ticket, but the driver still didn't like it. You already know that from your past experience.
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I have no idea how many traffic stops I’ve made in my career. I have heard every imaginable excuse known to mankind as to why the driver decided to break the law. Another fallacy that should be corrected is that we never had quotas to meet. When we would do our speed checks, the Barracks Commander would assign us to our duty and then give us a printout of instructions that would include the mileposts we were to set up and at what speed we would arrest. The equipment we used was continually being calibrated.
 
911 said:
Contrary to what some people believe, red light cameras are not put up as a money grab. The cameras do not come cheap, so they have to be paid for initially by using taxpayer’s money. Over time, fines will pay these costs. It’s doubtful that any village or city could station a cop at every corner with a redlight, so the next best thing is to use a camera with underground sensors.
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I still feel that red light camera's are just another business. I see that the company installing them get half the revenue and the municipality gets the other half. If it's not a money maker, why would they feel the need to shorten the time between yellow and red? I don't know how to prevent the people from deliberately skirting the law, but, I know a money grab when I see one.
 
I have not experienced one of those cameras..yet..and wonder when I will. Glad you did not get a ticket. They do give out tickets here without a police officer being there. Some are trying to do away with them because of mistakes made in judgement by those viewing the camera tapes.
 
Aneeda72 said:
Our police don't do courtesy stops, if you are stopped you are getting a ticket.
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Reminded me of a traffic stop 38 years ago. I was driving to Las Vegas with my girlfriend. It was around 11pm. We were about 80 miles from Vegas & I was going 85 (speed limit was 70). I looked in the mirror & saw the red lights of a Highway Patrolman. I said, "Oh, crap; I'm getting a speeding ticket." My girlfriend said, "Don't say anything; let me do all the talking; we'll get out of the ticket." I said, "OK, but I doubt it."

As soon as the cop got to the window & I gave him my license, my girlfriend said, "Oh, please don't give us a ticket; we're going to Las Vegas to get married."

The cop looked at her, then looked at me & asked, "Are you two really getting married?" (we weren't)

I said, "Yes."

He looked at her again, handed me back my license & said, "Well you're already in enough trouble...keep it under 75 & have a nice trip."
 
What do you think of those camera stop lights?

In some parts of the nation courts have outlawed those stoplights with automatic cameras, which snap a pic of your license plate, if you don't stop. Then you get a summons in the mail.There have been lots of problems with them. The system doesn't always read the license plate correctly. And it's not the car that violated traffic law, but the driver. The system can't always decide who is driving. Are they designed to stop accidents, or just a way to bring in extra funds? What do you think of those camera stop lights?
 
fuzzybuddy said:
In some parts of the nation courts have outlawed those stoplights with automatic cameras, which snap a pic of your license plate, if you don't stop. Then you get a summons in the mail.There have been lots of problems with them. The system doesn't always read the license plate correctly. And it's not the car that violated traffic law, but the driver. The system can't always decide who is driving. Are they designed to stop accidents, or just a way to bring in extra funds? What do you think of those camera stop lights?
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Nix on the cameras for lack of evidence as to who is driving. It would be a huge pain to undo thr summons and a waste of the court's time.

Makes one wonder, is the intent to keep people safe or collect fines?
 
On the other hand, we spend too much time thinking about the person running the light and not enough time thinking about the people they may injure or kill by running that red light.

The cameras wouldn't take pictures or generate any extra revenue if people would obey the law.

If the cameras cause the vehicle owners a little pain and inconvenience maybe they will begin policing themselves and the people that they allow to drive their vehicles.
 
I don't know why it seems like only Aunt Bea, myself, as an EMT/ambulance, and "911" who was a law enforcement officer, are advocates of red light cameras, but. As an EMT, I had drivers ignore my emergency lights and siren, just like they do red lights. They wouldn't pull over to the side of the road and that made my job of driving Code 3 (emergency) to a scene or to the ER, very, very difficult.
 
ClassicRockr said:
I don't know why it seems like only Aunt Bea, myself, as an EMT/ambulance, and "911" who was a law enforcement officer, are advocates of red light cameras, but. As an EMT, I had drivers ignore my emergency lights and siren, just like they do red lights. They wouldn't pull over to the side of the road and that made my job of driving Code 3 (emergency) to a scene or to the ER, very, very difficult.
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I'm not against red light camera's, I'm against towns and company's who re-program the light, and the one's that snap a photo if , even when you stop, your vehicle is inches over the white stripe. This has happened more than once. Tell me how many times everyone has rolled inches over the white line at a light, then tell me it's only about safety.
I feel for you as I have seen many un-attentive drivers who ignore emergency vehicles. I always find myself muttering, I hope someday that's what happens to them when they're waiting for an ambulance, or fire truck, or police response. I know, I shouldn't feel that way...... but.....
 
squatting dog said:
I feel for you as I have seen many un-attentive drivers who ignore emergency vehicles. I always find myself muttering, I hope someday that's what happens to them when they're waiting for an ambulance, or fire truck, or police response. I know, I shouldn't feel that way...... but.....
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I feel the same way, and also about fools that don't show any respect to funeral processions.
 

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