Red light cameras replacing cops at stop lights?

[kentuck]

http://www.gazette.com/articles/red-106029-test-cameras.html

<snip>
What are red-light cameras?

The red-light cameras shouldn’t be confused with the traffic management cameras that are mounted next to the traffic signals at several intersections around Colorado Springs. The red-light cameras are mounted on their own poles several feet from the corner of the intersection. There are two poles, one at each side of the intersection. One mount has one camera with two flashes next to it. The other has two cameras with a light below it. All cameras and lights are white.

How do they work?

The system is activated when a sensor detects motion near the white “stop bar” painted on the street after the stop light turns red. It takes several pictures and a 12-second video, including shots of the vehicle at the stop bar and in the middle of the intersection when the light is red. A license plate image is a close-up shot that is taken from one of the other images. American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz. assembles the images for review by the Colorado Springs Police Department. Time and date are also recorded.

<snip>
How much are fines and will it result in points on my license?

Fines are $75 and are set by state statute. No points will be put on the licenses of violators. Tickets for running a red light issued by traffic officers are $150 and 4 points on a driver’s license.

How will people receive citations?

Citations will come in the mail two to three weeks after the violation.


.........more

[SoCalDem]

1. "...Fines are $75...".. I WISH.. (hubby's cost us $880.00)

:grr:

[Johonny]

10. why do the kids spray paint everything but those cameras?

Hey kids there's a surface we'd all love you paint your initials over :)

[Oceansaway]

2. they're all over the Quad Cities....nt

[madrchsod]

11. thanks for the tip...

have`t been down that way lately but i sure not want a ticket when i do...

[eleny]

3. gahrgh!

:banghead:

[Xithras]

4. There's a simple solution....

It involves an old tire with a small plastic bottle taped inside...filled with a few ounces of gasoline. Hang the tire over the camera, toss a match inside, and let chemistry take its course.

The steel belts in the tire will keep it from sliding off, and the round shape will act like an oven, cooking the housing from all sides.

They do this all over Europe. I'm not sure why American's haven't joined in the fun yet.

[LanternWaste]

8. Or stop at a red...?

"There's a simple solution...."

Or just stop at the red light? Seems more time efficient to me.

[Xithras]

9. Maybe, but far less fun.

In all seriousness, I'd agree with you if not for the fact that cities have repeatedly been caught shortening yellow and green light durations at the same time these were installed. More often than not, red light cameras are more about revenue than about safety.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Even worse. They've recalibrated the lights so the time between green and red is less

than 30 seconds. You'd have to slam on the brakes at the first sight of yellow to avoid a ticket.

[sequioa]

6. Sucks

I'm purchasing a radar laser detector since I received one of these responding to a hospital call. I'm not contesting it because it is not worth my time. At 880, it would be.

[KoKo]

7. It's been in the works..assume it's getting more generally accepted these days...

as we lose more of our privacy...the "people" begin to be more accepting of losses of their Freedom to come and go.

AFTER ALL...them TERRAISTS ARE OUT THERE...WE ARE SAFER...with being MONITORED.

It started with Cameras in Ladies Dressing Rooms in Department Stores (posted here on DU many years ago) and morphed into Great Britain putting cameras everywhere in London and on...and on...and on..

There are even folks here and there who approve of X-Ray Scans of Personals in Airports and those who want their kids implated with "monitoring chips" because their vet already implants their dogs and cats with the chips and it makes the owners and parents feel more secure that the "Evil Ones" aren't going to get their kids or pets..and those people can afford these "high tech" things...they are happy to afford it so THEIR Kids and Pets will NEVER BE LOST to ABDUCTION or Other "Evil Doe'ers Imaginings!"

So...follow our GPS Trail and Make Sure your Retina Scan is AVAILABLE...so you don't get caught in a TERRORIST SWEEP which might delay you from your trip to your usual daily activities/work/family RUN.

After all ........."Isn't it better to be SAFE...than SORRY?"
"