Rise of speed enforcement traffic cameras

David777

David777

Well-known Member
Location
Silicon Valley
Support the below as it is the only way to change behaviors since police alone are overwhelmed by the large numbers of drivers who won't follow driving policies or laws unless threatened with pain. California already has traffic signal red light cameras that have successfully weathered years of legal opposition to the point they are now legally bullet proof.

https://ticketsnipers.com/ticket-resources/red-light-camera-locations-in-california

So the new bill adds to traffic camera enforcement the red light cameras began and automated license plate readers (ALPR) have continued to grow with. If it is successful given a few years of operation, one can be certain it will spread in other ways. Here in the SFBA with over 7 million people among its 9 counties, another issue is our freeways have commuter lanes where one is supposed to have multiple passengers for use. But from their inception despite several hundred dollar potential fines, there have been many solo drivers using such lanes because it is little enforced while the sad status quo in this societal era for many is cheat, lie, and manipulate, if one can get away with whatever. With California a Mecca for criminals also overwhelming police, ALPRs are also proving to be highly effective deterrent, catching such numbers of those driving in from places like Oakland that burglars and thieves are now stealing license plates to place on the stolen vehicles they use. But technology is rapidly making that tactic obsolete by matching plates to vehicle type/color.

https://walksf.org/2023/03/29/lets-win-speed-safety-cameras-with-assembly-bill-645/
snippet:

This bill would authorize, until January 1, 2032, the Cities of Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, and Long Beach, and the City and County of San Francisco to establish a Speed Safety System Pilot Program if the system meets specified requirements. The bill would require a participating city or city and county to adopt a Speed Safety System Use Policy and a Speed Safety System Impact Report before implementing the program, and would require the participating city or city and county to engage in a public information campaign at least 30 days before implementation of the program, including information relating to when the systems would begin detecting violations and where the systems would be utilized. The bill would require a participating city or city and county to issue warning notices rather than notices of violations for violations detected within the first 60 calendar days of the program. The bill would also require a participating city or city and county to develop uniform guidelines for, among other things, the processing and storage of confidential information. The bill would designate all photographic, video, or other visual or administrative records, not including data about the number of violations issued or the speeds at which they were issued for, made by a system as confidential, and would only authorize public agencies to use and allow access to these records for specified purposes...
 

Here in Vancouver WA, we have "Traffic Cams" which are to relay incidents to police of traffic accidents. It wouldn't be hard to make them recordable.

It's the slow areas (residential/commercial) that really need the enforcement. Plus, having road rage issues. I'd prefer people having 2 camera on each car.

Then you could record a road rage, the cops then send them a "notice to appear" to a psychiatrist to talk about that incident. To try and help them avoid such in future.

And yes, breathalyzer and phone stopper also. I understand people want their rights, but I also want the right to drive knowing most drivers are sober, not on phones and angry at everyone.
 
Relatively few red light cameras in Los Angeles given how many signals we have. In this area, I only see them where busways and a few Metro (subway, light rail) tracks cross heavily used intersections - and they're set to enforce "no right turn on red" signs. At one time there may have been red light cameras at all the intersections listed on TicketSnipers, but I live fairly close to a couple of them and there are no cameras there now. More updated info:
https://www.photoenforced.com/california.html

That said, I support more cameras, not only to make the streets safer, but California's police officers should be freed up to manage more pressing matters than writing speeding or red light tickets.

On another topic, I would also support a law requiring license plates on bicycles ridden by people over the age of 16.
I've seen a number of accidents, near accidents and traffic law violations. Requiring registration and purchase documentation might also cut down on bicycle theft.
 
We have red light cameras here. They are generally seen as a source of revenue for the city. Some have been relocated. The locations are public but there are enough that a driver is unlikely to remember all of them.

Apple Maps, as an example, warns a driver when they are approaching a light with a camera. I appreciate that feature. I don’t generally try to beat the light but that warning is a good reminder to watch my driving.
 
Nathan said:
Locally the red light cameras have mostly been taken out, due to the revelation that an out-of-state contractor is administering the system.
Some drivers have argued successfully in court that if they are going to be subject to a $500 fine that a law enforcement officer should be the one initiating the Vehicle Code violation.
Click to expand...
Same here. It was also demonstrated that there were more rear-ender collisions at red light camera intersections. Drivers began stopping short at fresh yellows in fear of getting ticketed, the driver right behind them expected that car to go through the intersection and wound up plowing into the back of the stopped vehicles.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
What is the difference if a cop was sitting there taking down the license plates numbers of offenders, or a camera is? An offender is an offender.
Click to expand...
I think the point is that it should be someone at least attached to CA law enforcement rather than some out-of-state contractor's clerical help. It also depends on traffic court judges, their feelings on the matter, and how it affects their rulings.

Case in point:

Many, many moons ago I went to evening traffic court for a ticket. While waiting my turn, a guy went up to plead his case for a carpool lane ticket - this was less than a year after carpool lanes arrived in Los Angeles. He told the judge he was "guilty with an explanation," a plea that sometimes got the ticket dismissed or the fine waived. He explanation was that he didn't understand the carpool lane laws.

The judge said, "Neither do I. Case dismissed." Then he looked out at all the people waiting to plead their case. "Anyone else here for a carpool lane violation because you were unclear about those laws?" As you can imagine, many hands went up. He dismissed all carpool lane cases en masse and sent them to his bailiff for their paperwork.

Pretty sure that judge, a man in his early forties at most, understood the carpool lane laws. He was just irritated by them and this was his way to strike back.

Sad to say, I wasn't there for a CP lane violation.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
What is the difference if a cop was sitting there taking down the license plates numbers of offenders, or a camera is? An offender is an offender.
Click to expand...
Let's say I just stole your car. Blew the speed radar. Cop pulls me over, no, I'm running! This adds more hefty crimes with more cash for state.

I don't care about your car, want to get away. But I get pitted and your car is toast, good thing your insurance covers the theft.

The cops bust me "Hey, he's got warrants out! Good job officer, another scumbag off the streets!"

Otherwise it's "But my car was stolen! I'm innocent!"
 
fuzzybuddy said:
What is the difference if a cop was sitting there taking down the license plates numbers of offenders, or a camera is? An offender is an offender.
Click to expand...
If the radar is not acurately tuned before each reading and a record kept of the calibrating, (as a cop would do) you or your atty can't cross examine or question a camera in court.

Besides, I'd rather have more cops on the street fighting real crime, than cameras taking pics!
 
Last edited:
If you're speeding, or running a red light, you're speeding or running redlight, regardless if it's a cop, or a camera that caught you. Are there some instances where a camera may misjudged something, yes and that never happens when a cop missees it? And even a cop doesn't have a color glossy of you driving through a red light.
 
There were red light cameras in Plano when I used to visit my mother. I would get tickets for stupid things like not coming to a complete stop before turning right at a red light when there was no traffic coming. It was mostly a money-maker. They've been removed. Now I wish they would come back because we have had such an increase in traffic in Dallas and I see people run red lights constantly.

Red light cameras get the boot​



53da619771c3a.image.jpg


Red light cameras have finally met their end in Texas.
After a successful campaign in the 86th legislative session, Governor Greg Abbott officially signed House Bill 1631 into law, effectively prohibiting all red light cameras in the state.

The bill was co-authored by more than 60 bipartisan representatives, including local state representatives Matt Shaheen and Jeff Leach. This bill means a win for local constituents who Shaheen says “overwhelmingly” called for an end to the red light camera program. “We see no impact to public safety,” he said in April. “We have reviewed studies that show the benefits as well as the negative impacts of red light cameras. The ripple effect we anticipate is much happier constituents who feel like their voices have been heard.”

The new law also means a win for residents who’ve long despised the lack of due process with automated ticketing system. Irving-based attorney Russell Bowman has advocated against red light cameras for much of his career, even representing local residents Ashley Nicole Hill and Jon Neill in a lawsuit against the city and Plano Police Chief Greg Rushin, for allegedly violating the Texas Constitution.

At $75 a ticket, the red light camera program is lucrative for the Plano Police Department, so the transition does mean a loss to a local revenue stream. Last year, the department netted $2.4 million in revenue, which went toward traffic safety programs, inspection improvements and other traffic signal expenses. Plano Police have been vocal advocates for the red light program for reducing traffic crashes and discouraging reckless driving behavior in the city. Rushin traveled to Austin to testify against the bill with stories of how the red light camera program has impacted safety in Plano, especially in accident-prone intersections.
“Our job in law enforcement and public safety is the safety of our community, and the red light cameras have proven – based on statistical information – to be effective in reducing crashes, and reducing crashes reduces potential deaths and injuries,” Plano Police spokesman David Tilley said.

Following the bill’s passage, Plano police said via social media, ”We respect the decision of our elected officials and immediately started the process to suspend our red light camera program to comply with the law. As of May 31, there will be no further notices issued related to the red light camera program."

The new law allows departments to complete their contracts; however, Plano PD's contract allows them to terminate without notice if a law changes.
 
Same legal monkeywrenching over red light cameras have occurred here in California but the haters have not prevailed haha. At this point many cities are putting them back in at key intersections while other cities are waiting for more dust to settle. Tends to be political in many places so politicians like those in Texas have used it as a cheap way to attract voters. When it was first implemented, some greedy cities began ticketing people that were not totally stopping absolutely dead still before making right turns that is absolute nonsense. Even police vehicles rarely do so as that has no purpose. Almost like some did so to make even more people hate it to the point it would go away. Did not work. Of course not surprising as many wealthy, powerful people in their expensive luxury vehicles are the worst speeders and traffic offenders.

If California put automated cameras to work, there are so many habitually aggressive, impatient, law could care less drivers out there that fines alone would support the whole state budget at least for a year or two until people became shocked into compliance.
 
a
In the UK it's not just speed.

Within microseconds they can check insurance, registration, roadworthiness certificate, red light and other moving traffic offences, , - if a car has bee involved in drugs and send an alert to the nearest cop cars.

All cop cars have them and they are on all major routes - freeways, junctions , bridges
 
Virginia has red light and speed enforcement boxes set up in many cities. They work just fine and most drivers honor them with no defense in Municipal Court. Below is a link to my city’s code of enforcement. I live in Alexandria. BTW, I have 1 red light ticket from one of the boxes. I must have missed the warning sign. I didn’t remember running any lights, but I wasn’t going to challenge it because the box took my car’s picture and the plate, so I figured it was probably correct and I wasn’t paying attention.

Cameras.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top